IWAD Farmers Forum in Manprugu Moaduri District in Northern Ghana 15

About 141 farm owners in the Mamprugu Moaduri District in the northern region have being compensated to pave way for the development and implementation of the Sisili-Kulpawn irrigation scheme project implemented by the Integrated Water and Agricultural Development, (IWAD Ghana). The development and implementation of the Sisili Kulpawn Irrigation Scheme Project is to introduce modern farming technologies to increase the incomes of out grower smallholder farmers. The six million dollar project is almost complete as works on the water pumps, reservoir and land preparation have been completed with the central pivot systems and sprinklers currently supplying water to some rice and maize farms. Some farmers whose farms were taken over for the irrigation project have been compensated and relocated in consultation with chiefs and traditional authorities in the area. Some affected farmers who spoke to Viasat 1 News were happy about the project but others were dissatisfied with the amount of money paid as compensation. SOT 1: Lamisi Sayibu, Affected Farmer "I was having 12 acres of land which i used to farm maize before the relocation. I am happy about the take over of my land because i believe it will develop the community. i was compensated with some amount of money which i used to develop another land where am now farming." SOT 2: Tiya Abu, victim "I was having 25 acres of land which i used farm maize however, the money was given as compensation for my farmland was 630 Ghana cedis for the 6 acres i was farming on. also the land apportioned to me under the irrigation project is only one and half acres." In response to these concerns the General Manager for Integrated Water Agricultural Development Ghana Ltd, (IWAD Ghana), Ing. Busia Dawuni, outlined the procedure used in arriving at the compensation package. Ing. Busia also disclosed that once development is complete on the acquired lands all displaced farmers would be given new plots of land for cropping. He urged smallholder farmers in the area to go commercial since the company will support the out growers with improved irrigation infrastructure in the long-term. From Mamprugu Moaduri District, Noah Nash for Viasat 1 News