PICA

In January 2016, The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and I WAD Ghana Limited, the private agricultural and irrigation development company, signed a Cooperative Agreement under which the two organisations will co-fund the Power Innovations in Commercial Agriculture (PICA) project. The goal of PICA is to enhance net incomes of the irrigated nucleus farm and 300 out-growers in the Sisili-Kulpawn basin through the provision of efficient alternative power systems. Three specific objectives will be pursued to achieve this goal:

• Build infrastructure for a solar hybrid power generation system.
• Secure the provision of low cost power for irrigated farming.
• Improve productivity of smallholder out growers through application of smaller solar irrigation initiatives.

It is expected that with the generation of about 0.8MW of solar energy both IWAD’s nucleus estate and its smallholder outgrowers will have access to clean energy that significantly improves their net incomes through power cost savings up to 50%. The transfer of knowledge on modern irrigation and renewable energy is expected to enhance efficiency in energy and water use for commercial agriculture among local farmers.

The project location is Yagaba, in the Mamprugu-Moaduri district of the Northern Region of Ghana

IWAD partners with Africa Lead Agribusiness Internship Programme(A-LEAP)

When the A-LEAP programme was initiated in Ghana in early 2017, IWAD found synergy between the programme’s objectives and IWAD’s planned work placement initiative for the youth. The A-LEAP programme aims to provide opportunities for African youth aged 18-35 to gain practical experience and knowledge in the agricultural sector. The broad goal is to support

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PICA updates

Three demonstration farms have been established with small solar applications at three different locations close to water source, one at Kpasenkpe, another one at Yagaba and the IWAD nucleus farm estate. Over 50 farmers have so far participated in the demonstration farm training on how to use small solar applications for the cultivation of vegetables

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Consultations/Potential Investors’ Visits

On Saturday, the 22nd of April, 2017, IWAD led by the Operations Manager received an entourage from the Government of Ghana at the project site in Yagaba. The entourage included the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Salifu Saeed; Minister of State in-charge of Special Development Initiatives, Hon. Hawa Koomson and other dignitaries. The Operations Manager, Small

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Solar Energy for Irrigation: Finding the best energy option to reduce the cost of commercial agriculture

For many countries in Africa, irrigation is touted as the answer to achieving the transformation of local agriculture from a subsistent necessity to a commercial enterprise for the serious farmer.Irrigation for many is seen as the panacea to reducing the significant risk in agricultural investments that is tied to inconsistent rainfall patterns. However if we

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