Communities in Northern Ghana are expected to continue benefiting from new agricultural infrastructure and training facilities established under the Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) project, which has officially concluded after several years of implementation.
The initiative, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the European Union-Ghana Agriculture Programme (EUGAP), focused on improving farming systems and strengthening the resilience of rural livelihoods in the face of climate variability. About 200 communities participated in the programme.
At the close of the project, representatives from the European Union Delegation to Ghana and other stakeholders visited several beneficiary communities in the Upper West Region, including Buka, Dupri and Duang, as well as the Babile Agricultural Research Centre.
One of the most significant outcomes highlighted during the visit was the construction of an irrigation canal in Duori. The canal channels water from a dam to nearby farmlands, allowing farmers to cultivate nearly 100 acres during the dry season. Prior to the intervention, agricultural activities in the community largely stopped once the rains ended.
With the irrigation system now operational, about 100 households are able to grow vegetables such as cabbage throughout the year, improving both food availability and household incomes.
Another key investment is a solar-powered cold storage facility installed in Duang to help reduce post-harvest losses. The facility has a storage capacity of 10 tonnes of vegetables, enabling farmers to preserve produce and sell it later when market prices are more favourable.
The project also upgraded the Babile Agriculture Station in the Lawra Municipality into a regional training centre for agricultural extension officers and practitioners. As part of the development, a 12-bed hostel was built and a 15-acre conservation agriculture demonstration site established.
The site includes three solar mechanised boreholes, a rehabilitated dam and soil conservation equipment. Training sessions at the centre also introduced farmers and extension officers to conservation farming tools such as rippers and planters, alongside tractor-based techniques.
According to the statement, more than 1,000 farmers and extension officers have already undergone practical training at the facility, equipping them with skills to adopt climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Speaking during the visit, Paulina Rozycka, Head of Infrastructure and Sustainable Development at the EU Delegation, said climate change disproportionately affects communities that depend directly on land and natural resources.
She noted that the EU had been supporting farming communities in Northern Ghana since 2020 to promote sustainable food systems and climate-resilient agriculture.
The REACH project was co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and aimed to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable communities to adapt to changing climate conditions while improving agricultural productivity and incomes.
