Residents of Dasobligo in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region are set to benefit from renewed agricultural opportunities following the rehabilitation of irrigation canals connected to the community dam, an initiative supported by the Water Resources Commission (WRC).
The Dasobligo dam, constructed several years ago to support irrigation farming, had in recent times fallen into partial disuse due to the deterioration of its canal system. Cracks and structural failures led to significant water losses, rendering irrigation inefficient and discouraging many farmers from using the facility.
Assemblyman for the Dasobligo Electoral Area, Alex Asina Anongduknaba, said the situation had severely affected dry-season farming, with many farmers abandoning irrigation due to unreliable water flow.
“In the past, the canals carried water directly to our farms, but now most of the water is lost before it even reaches us,” a local farmer said.
In response, the community’s Water and Sanitation Management Team sought assistance by submitting a proposal to rehabilitate the damaged canals. The intervention, now being implemented with support from the WRC and its partners, focuses on repairing broken canal sections and introducing pipe systems to improve water distribution across farming areas.
Head of the White Volta Basin, Jesse Kazapoe, said the rehabilitation is expected to restore efficient water flow from the dam to irrigation fields, enabling farmers to resume and expand vegetable cultivation. The move is expected to boost food production and improve household incomes in the area.
“This intervention is about more than just water delivery; it is about livelihoods,” Mr. Kazapoe said. “With reliable access to irrigation, more young people in the community can engage in farming, especially vegetable production, instead of migrating to urban centers in search of work.”
Mr. Kazapoe added that beyond the canal rehabilitation, the Commission has provided technical guidance to support environmental restoration efforts aimed at safeguarding the long-term viability of the dam. Years of deforestation within the catchment area have led to increased sedimentation, gradually reducing the dam’s storage capacity.
To address this, residents, with technical support, are cultivating economic trees such as mango and cashew within the catchment zone to reduce soil erosion and limit siltation.
“The community has taken ownership of the problem,” Mr. Kazapoe said. “By restoring vegetation around the dam, they are helping to extend its lifespan and ensure it continues to serve future generations.”
The combined efforts of infrastructure rehabilitation and environmental conservation are being hailed as a model for community-driven water resource management.
Mr. Kazapoe made the remarks during a sensitization workshop organized by the Water Resources Commission and Blue Deal, together with other partners, for journalists and media practitioners in Bolgatanga to enhance their technical capacity.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Samuel Adagom | Bolgatanga
