Spilled water from the Tono dam has flooded several farms in low lying areas along the Dam's Spillway in the kasena/nankana Municipal Assembly of the Upper East Region, destroying crops and farming equipment.
The spillage which was triggered by a heavy downpour on Thursday night coupled with water from the Bagre Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso, has affected several farms in communities including Bonia, Korania, Gaani, Biu and Chuchuliga-Naasa.
Crops such as maize, rice, tomatoes, garden eggs and pepper which are predominant in the area have been submerged and destroyed by the slow moving waters, leaving farmers to count their losses.
The water has also cut access to farms on high lying areas and farmers have fears that the coming rains will not spare their remaining crops.
A farmer who identified himself only as Albert, said he came to his farm in the morning only to realize his entire vegetable farm had been flooded. He said although he anticipated the rise in water level, he did not expect that the entire area will be flooded.
"This is my farm. I grow pepper, garden eggs and other vegetables. I'm very sad today because I never expected this. Everything was nice yesterday before I went home. I was here yesterday afternoon. But everything has changed this morning. The water has destroyed my entire farm and carried away our machines and tubes"
"The water level goes up every year, but this year is different. Just look at what the flood has caused us". Mr. Albert lamented as he took our Reporter, Senyalah Castro Cazo, around his farm.
Some of the farmers who spoke off record said the only way to avert future occurrences is to desilt the Tono Dam Spillway which has seen no digging since it was cut out as the main channel through which spilled water from the Dam is carried away.
They commended the Agriculture Minister for his swift response to their cries for government's subsidised fertilizer during his recent visit to the Municipality and pleaded that he looks into desilting the spillway.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com | Senyalah Castro Cazo | [email protected]
