Solar-powered Irrigation Farm Project

10 acre Solar-powered irrigation farm project commissioned in the Bawku Area of the Church of Pentecost

The 10-acre solar-powered irrigation farm project initiated by the Pentecost Social Services (PENTSOS)
last year at Tanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana has been commissioned. The project, which falls under the Sustainable Livelihood Programme (SLP) of PENTSOS, was commissioned by the Bawku Area Head of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Gyambibi Boateng, on behalf of the Chairman, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, at a special ceremony. The SLP, among other objectives, seeks to empower members, especially the youth and other local farmers, to gain sustainable income. The project would directly support 50 smallholder farmers to cultivate vegetables like okra, onion, pepper, tomatoes, cabbage etc. and reduce their dependency on rain-fed agriculture, which is on a balance of probabilities. Therefore, to enhance food security and job opportunities, PENTSOS, in partnership with the Headquarters and the Bawku Area, decided to embark on dry-season irrigation farming (mainly short-cycle vegetable production) to support members of the church to create job opportunities and sustainable income, he added. Highlighting the scope of the project, the Operations Coordinator of PENTSOS, Elder Ing. Frank Adutwum stated that the project, which cost GHS 290,000.00, has three boreholes, supplying about 70,000 litres (15,400 gallons) of water for eight hours daily. Two boreholes
have also been connected to solar pumps delivering about 50,000 litres of water into four installed Polytanks, while the remaining borehole operates on a generator. In addition, a drip irrigation technology has been installed on a three-acre portion of the land to ensure adequate supply of water on the farmland. The Area Head said the irrigation project is, therefore, a catalyst for achieving relevant priorities in the five-year strategic vision of The Church of Pentecost (Vision 2023) aimed at “possessing the nations” by transforming society with Kingdom principles.