Project Rural Irrigation System for Ekumdipe (RISE) shows local people how to use farming techniques to overcome idleness typically experienced during the 6-month dry-season. Using the Daka River to create a thorough water irrigation system, on March 5, Ekumdipe was able to successfully harvest their first batch of crops during the dry-season. This will allow community members to continue to generate income during the dry-season, increase the food supply, and stimulate small-scale trade growth.
Ekumdipe is a community of about 1,200 people in of of Ghana's rural, northern regions that experiences extreme idleness during the dry-season (which is from approximately from October to March). Farmers earn nothing during this 6-month period, which keeps the people in Ekumdipe in poverty. The farmers in Ekumdipe do not work during this season and forego a substantial amount of potential income.
RISE utilizes the nearby Daka River to create a thorough water irrigation system. With proper irrigation, crops currently grown only seasonally can be cultivated throughout the year. Crops typically unable to be harvested during the dry-season sell in the markets of the nearby urban center of Tamale for high prices compared to the prices in regions familiar with the techniques of dry-season farming. Our technical assistance will stimulate small-scale trade growth and increase the food supply.
The issue of poverty is at the forefront of development in Africa. In our surveys, community members overwhelmingly said they needed jobs during the dry-season. Project RISE provides an effective and self-sustainable solution to overcoming idleness during this 6-month futile season. Introducing agricultural technological innovations will elevate the quality of living for all in Ekumdipe and allow them to maximize their income during the entire year.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
