The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has officially cut the sod for the construction of the Waamu/Kumi Water Conservation Scheme in Aninkromah in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region.

The project will add 114 hectares of irrigable land to the nation’s agricultural reserve, directly benefiting at least 145 members of the Waamu/Kumi Rice Farmers' Cooperative and potentially doubling local paddy yields.

​The development forms a central component of the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) and the government's Feed Ghana Programme under the Irrigation for Wealth module. 

Designed to transform single-season, rain-fed farming into a two-cycle cropping system, the scheme is projected to yield 1,140 metric tonnes of paddy annually — translating to roughly 750 metric tonnes of milled rice with an estimated gross production value of GHS8 million.

​Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Opoku emphasised that expanding agricultural infrastructure is critical to reducing Ghana’s reliance on food imports and securing sustainable rural livelihoods.

​"The true measure of this project will be the improvement it brings to people's lives," the Minister stated, highlighting, "Our responsibility is to help farmers turn the scheme's productive potential into profitable farming through efficient operations, good yields, and dependable markets."

​In addition to agricultural output, the project is expected to create approximately 100 temporary jobs during construction and generate roughly 2,000 sustainable opportunities across the broader agricultural value chain—spanning mechanisation services, transport, milling, input distribution, and marketing.

​The Minister expressed gratitude to the Amakye Bare Traditional Council, beneficiary chiefs, and landowners of Aninkromah, Kumi, Ohwim, and Pasoro for donating land for the project. 

Addressing concerns raised during the draft agreement review, he assured traditional authorities that the ministry's legal team is finalising transparent management terms to safeguard community interests.

He tasked the contractor Awo HeneWaa Limited and supervising engineers to adhere strictly to technical specifications and prioritising local labor. 

Mr Opoku further urged the local cooperative, the District Assembly, and community members to protect the surrounding catchment area from pollution and encroachment to ensure the long-term viability of the water infrastructure.

​The Waamu/Kumi intervention, he said, is part of a broader FSRP initiative targeting the development or rehabilitation of 4,800 hectares of farmland nationwide, including major irrigation systems at Kpong, Tanosu, Vea, and Weta, alongside inland valley developments in the Ashanti and Bono East regions.