Weta rice farmers seek urgent support after floods destroy crops

Rice farmers in the Volta Region's Weta community have urgently petitioned the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for financial assistance and the restoration of the Weta Irrigation Scheme following devastating floods that destroyed their crops. A delegation of chiefs, farmers, and concerned youth presented their petition, demanding immediate government intervention to restore production and aid affected families in regaining their livelihoods.

The farmers also requested an investigation into the utilization of World Bank funds allocated for scheme redevelopment. Gideon Kokroko, a youth representative, stated that 1,203 farmers had invested in the scheme before the floods struck, only for it to obliterate their efforts. He urgently appealed for assistance to meet basic needs while awaiting the next farming season.

The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, received the petition on behalf of the minister and promised to address the farmers' concerns, assuring that the matter would be resolved. The delegation emphasized the importance of restoring the irrigation facility to revive farming activities, with over 1,200 families impacted and seeking appropriate compensation for recovery.