It would be recalled that A1 Radio reported that due to the absence of water for irrigation in the Dorongo Dam, farmers have been forced to abandon their crops, leaving their fields barren and unattended.
With no other options, some farmers have resorted to allowing their animals to graze on the abandoned farmlands, further exacerbating the loss of potential harvests.
“This year, a bag of peppers was between 2,500 cedis to 2,900 cedis. But sadly, that was the period when farmers under this dam were packing out because there was insufficient water for the crops. We invested so much in our farms, hoping for a good harvest, but now everything is lost. Without water from the dam, there’s nothing we can do. Our crops have withered, and we’re left with no choice but to let our animals graze on the land,” lamented Alex Abunga Abagna, Chairman of the Dorongo Farmers Association.
Adugpoka Adagyine, a widow who traded vegetable produce from the dam, recalls how the thriving agricultural activities enabled her to provide for her children’s education. “The dam was our lifeline. It helped us send our children to school and secure a better future,” she said wistfully. However, with the dam now dried up, Adugpoka and others like Mary Akulga find themselves incapacitated, struggling to make ends meet.
Many youths in the community found employment opportunities through the cultivation of vegetables, thereby reducing unemployment and improving educational prospects. Among them is Aloliga Paul, a teacher by profession. Mr. Aloliga said his father funded his education up to the university level through proceeds from the dam.
“We urgently need the government’s intervention to desilt the dam,” said Samson Akolgo, a youth. “It’s our only hope for restoring our livelihoods and ensuring food security for our families.”
The MCE for Bolgatanga, in response to the concerns from community members on the Day Break Upper East Show, said, “We have not forgotten about the dam. It is in the second batch [of SOCO projects] which is now going through procurement processes. They are doing the designs, also the SOCO people have come around to validate the projects.”
“I think the Dorongo people are very lucky. We shifted and did their KG. Because we had before made a commitment to dredge the dam, we have not moved away from that. We will still go back and do the dam,” he said.
Mr. Asanga, however, stated that the dredging of the dam would be done in bits because of the huge sums involved.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga
