The Managing Director of the Irrigation Company of the Upper Region (ICOUR), Mr. Dominic Anarigide, has announced plans to expand and significantly improve year-round irrigation farming activities to boost agricultural productivity and farmer incomes across northern Ghana.
ICOUR, one of the country’s most strategic public irrigation schemes, currently empowers thousands of smallholder farmers, covering about 2,490 hectares of irrigable land and supporting approximately 6,000 farmers engaged in crop production. According to Mr. Anarigide, the scheme is poised for a major transformation that will unlock its full agricultural potential.
The announcement followed a high-level visit to the ICOUR scheme on January 5, 2026, by a delegation of government officials and private sector investors led by the Majority Leader of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga.
The delegation included the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga; the Regional DRIP Coordinator, Abubakar Atongo Salifu; the Municipal Chief Executive of the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Assembly, Faustina Abulu; the Managing Director of MyTurn Limited, Hannah Anenenah and her team; the Municipal Chief Executive of the Bawku Municipal Assembly; the Regional and Municipal Directors of Agriculture; engineers from the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA); and other private sector players.
Mr. Anarigide explained that the objective of the visit was to assess opportunities for sustainable, year-round agricultural production, explore the possibility of putting all productive ICOUR lands into use, and identify areas where critical irrigation infrastructure could be expanded and upgraded for optimal performance.
“I warmly welcomed the team and expressed my satisfaction with their visit. This engagement aligns perfectly with our agenda to rebrand, restructure, and reposition ICOUR as a viable and attractive investment destination for both government and the private sector,” he stated.
During the tour, the delegation inspected key irrigation infrastructure, water control systems, and vast tracts of arable land suitable for expansion. The visit highlighted the scheme’s strategic importance in enhancing food security, reducing dry-season unemployment, and promoting modern agribusiness practices among rural farmers.
Mr. Ayariga assured farmers and management of ICOUR of coordinated efforts by the government and stakeholders to modernize the scheme and ensure farmers benefit from improved irrigation, technology, and agribusiness opportunities.
“This scheme has enormous potential. With the right investment and coordination, rural farmers can gain modern agribusiness experience and increase productivity throughout the year,” he noted.
The planned expansion and improvements at ICOUR are expected to strengthen Ghana’s irrigation agriculture drive, create more jobs, and position the Upper East Region as a major hub for sustainable, climate-resilient farming.
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