More than 2,500 rice farmers under the Weta Irrigation Scheme in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region have suffered devastating losses after torrential rains submerged nearly all of the 1,800 hectares of rice fields under cultivation. The farmers estimate their losses at over GH¢59.9 million and are urgently appealing to government for intervention.
Established in 1977, the Weta Irrigation Scheme is one of Ghana’s largest irrigation projects, supporting over 1,200 farmers across 23 communities and indirectly benefiting more than 10,000 people. However, years of deterioration and poor maintenance have left canals choked and the dam’s control system dysfunctional, making the facility vulnerable to flooding. The recent rains destroyed farms, damaged feeder roads, and collapsed embankments, leaving farmers unable to access their fields or protect their crops.
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Spokesperson Gideon Kokroko described the situation as the worst disaster since the dam’s construction, warning of dire consequences for food security and youth involvement in rice farming. He stressed that only a complete rehabilitation of the scheme can restore confidence in rice production.
Farmers like Rebecca Nukporfe expressed concern about repaying loans taken at high interest rates to finance their farms, noting that many households now face severe hardship. She recalled similar flooding in 2025 that destroyed farms, after which government promised relief support that never materialized.
Despite previous assurances from the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority and local leaders that rehabilitation would be funded under the World Bank’s West Africa Food System Resilience Programme, no major works have been carried out. Farmers are therefore calling on government, disaster management agencies, and development partners to provide immediate relief and prioritize rehabilitation of the scheme.
The crisis has also affected rice farmers in nearby communities such as Akatsi and Tadzewu, where large acreages have been destroyed, raising fears of widespread economic hardship and food insecurity in the region.
Source: Newsghana.com
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