Canada-backed GROW 2 irrigation project targets year-round farming in northern belt

The Government has intensified efforts to boost vegetable production in northern Ghana with the construction of 25 modern solar-powered boreholes across selected districts in five northern regions, as part of a GH¢8 million initiative targeting dry-season agriculture and women’s economic empowerment.

The intervention is being implemented under the Greater Rural Opportunities for Women 2 (GROW 2) programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada and executed by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).

Speaking at the symbolic inauguration of the facilities in Moglaa in the Savelugu municipality, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, described the project as a strategic intervention to enhance food security, increase farmers’ incomes and reduce poverty in the northern belt.

He noted that erratic rainfall and limited water sources had, over the years, constrained productivity and contributed to seasonal unemployment among farmers, adding that the solar-powered boreholes would provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly water source enabling year-round vegetable cultivation beyond the rainy season.

“This project forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the agricultural sector, particularly in underserved regions,” Mr. Opoku said, expressing the expectation that it would enable northern Ghana to emerge as a hub for year-round vegetable production.

The boreholes span districts across the Northern,  Upper West, and Savannah regions. Each facility is equipped with solar-powered pumps, water storage systems and irrigation tools designed for efficiency and sustainability.

The facilities are expected to support roughly 50 acres of irrigable land and benefit more than 3,000 women farmers organised into Savings and Loans Groups across 11 districts. Additional support in the form of training, inputs and market access is expected to accompany the borehole initiative to maximise its impact.

Myriam Montrat, High Commissioner of Canada to Ghana, said the intervention reflected a broader push to align development financing with Ghana’s agricultural priorities, including efforts to expand irrigation and reduce food insecurity.

She described the boreholes as “engines of transformation” for rural communities and said Canada would continue to support agricultural development in northern Ghana beyond the lifecycle of the GROW 2 project, which is due to conclude in September 2026.

“Behind each number is a story of a woman gaining independence, of a family achieving food security, and of a community building a stronger future. Each facility is equipped with solar-powered pumps, water storage systems, and irrigation tools designed for efficiency and sustainability. But beyond the technology, what truly matters is what this enables: year-round farming, higher incomes, improved nutrition, and resilience in the face of climate challenges,” she added.

The focus on women farmers reflects a targeted approach to rural development, as policymakers seek to address structural constraints limiting productivity in northern Ghana.

Women play a central role in vegetable production but often lack access to land, finance and irrigation systems. By linking water access to group-based financing structures, the project aims to strengthen both production capacity and household incomes.

Access to irrigation has long been cited as critical to modernising the sector, while the use of solar energy is expected to reduce operational costs, lower exposure to fuel price volatility and ensure long-term sustainability.

Farmers in beneficiary communities have welcomed the development, expressing optimism that improved water access would enable them to expand production, diversify crops and improve their livelihoods. Some indicated the project could help curb rural-urban migration by creating economic opportunities locally.

The northern regions have historically faced a compressed farming season, with long dry periods contributing to seasonal unemployment and rural-urban migration. Expanding irrigation is widely seen as critical to stabilising incomes and improving food supply chains, and the initiative aligns with the government’s broader agricultural agenda, including the Feed Ghana Programme.

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