Targeting and Scaling – up of Agricultural Water ... - CORE
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Targeting and Scaling – up of Agricultural Water Management Interventions in the Black Volta Basin – Ghana: A CPWF V1 MSc Thesis Project Supervisors: Prof. S. N. Odai and Mr. Frank Ohene Annor Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana Author’s e-mail: [email protected] Background Majority of the populace in the Upper West Region of Ghana are small-scale farmers who depend mainly on rain-fed agriculture. However, rainfall pattern is uni-modal (April – September) and variable thus making agriculture quite challenging. This has resulted in poverty and food insecurity with migration down south being on the ascendency especially during the dry season. This research therefore seeks to identify the AWM interventions available in the region, assess their biophysical and socio-economic parameters and up-scale the successful ones to other areas that have similar characteristics. WRESP - KNUST Perpetual Y. Diabene, June 2012 The Black Volta Basin Adoption Rates of Interventions Methodology Desk Studies Field Visits Interviews Questionnaire Administration FGDs/Mental Mapping Transect walk with GPS GIS & RS Reviewed Literature CPWF Protocol Interviews Observations PGIS Potential Areas Map of Potential Areas for Small Reservoir Suitability Classes Area (%) Optimal 1.3 High 57.2 Moderate 41.5 Acknowledgments This work is supported by CPWF project V1 ‘Targeting and Scaling out’. Special thanks also go to my supervisors at KNUST and Dr. M. Fosu and J. Barron for their comments and guidance. Research Questions 1. What are the types and details of AWM interventions available in the study area and their adoption rates? 2. What are the biophysical and socio-economic parameters that could affect these AWM interventions? 3. Which locations within the region have similar biophysical and socio-economic parameters for the up-scaling of successful AWM interventions? With the exception of Yagha, increments of over 100% in adoption were recorded in the other communities (1996 – 2001). Decrease in Yagha is mainly due to land tenure problems. Increment in adoption of use of small reservoirs is due to their multiple uses especially for dry season gardening and livestock watering. The use of stone bunds and tied ridges have helped to improve crop yields. Increase in yields is linked with other farm inputs and practices. Residue from harvested crops supplement livestock feed especially during the dry season thus reducing the risk of animals getting lost or dying during search for feed. Conclusions Small reservoirs are successful because they help to manage droughts and floods periods to make water available for agriculture throughout the year unfortunately, they are poorly managed and maintained. Reservoirs are sometimes sited because of community demand or political reasons and not necessarily biophysical factors. Success of interventions were not only linked to interventions alone but other factors such as fertilizer, access to market & transportation and agronomic practices. . 14 5 21 45 9 30 71 120 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Stone Bund Tied Ridges Small Reservoir Small Reservoir Yagha Kusele Kunyukuo Yeliyiri No. of HH No. of HH Start No. of HH Present
Transcript of Targeting and Scaling – up of Agricultural Water ... - CORE
Targeting and Scaling – up of Agricultural Water Management Interventions in the Black Volta Basin – Ghana: A CPWF V1 MSc Thesis Project
Supervisors: Prof. S. N. Odai and Mr. Frank Ohene Annor Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Author’s e-mail: [email protected]
Background Majority of the populace in the Upper West Region of Ghana are small-scale farmers who depend mainly on rain-fed agriculture. However, rainfall pattern is uni-modal (April – September) and variable thus making agriculture quite challenging. This has resulted in poverty and food insecurity with migration down south being on the ascendency especially during the dry season. This research therefore seeks to identify the AWM interventions available in the region, assess their biophysical and socio-economic parameters and up-scale the successful ones to other areas that have similar characteristics.
WRESP - KNUST
Perpetual Y. Diabene, June 2012
The Black Volta Basin
Adoption Rates of Interventions
Methodology
Desk Studies Field Visits
Interviews Questionnaire Administration
FGDs/Mental Mapping
Transect walk with
GPSGIS & RS
Reviewed Literature
CPWF Protocol Interviews Observations
PGIS
Potential Areas
Map of Potential Areas for Small Reservoir
Suitability Classes Area (%)
Optimal 1.3
High 57.2
Moderate 41.5 Acknowledgments
This work is supported by CPWF project V1 ‘Targeting and Scaling out’. Special thanks also go to my supervisors at KNUST and Dr. M. Fosu and J. Barron for their comments and guidance.
Research Questions 1. What are the types and details of AWM interventions available in
the study area and their adoption rates? 2. What are the biophysical and socio-economic parameters that could affect these AWM interventions? 3. Which locations within the region have similar biophysical and socio-economic parameters for the up-scaling of successful AWM interventions?
v With the exception of Yagha, increments of over 100% in adoption were recorded in the other communities (1996 – 2001). Decrease in Yagha is mainly due to land tenure problems. v Increment in adoption of use of small reservoirs is due to their multiple uses especially for dry season gardening and livestock watering. v The use of stone bunds and tied ridges have helped to improve crop yields. Increase in yields is linked with other farm inputs and practices. v Residue from harvested crops supplement livestock feed especially during the dry season thus reducing the risk of animals getting lost or dying during search for feed. Conclusions
v Small reservoirs are successful because they help to manage droughts and floods periods to make water available for agriculture throughout the year unfortunately, they are poorly managed and maintained. v Reservoirs are sometimes sited because of community demand or political reasons and not necessarily biophysical factors. v Success of interventions were not only linked to interventions alone but other factors such as fertilizer, access to market & transportation and agronomic practices. .
14 5
21
45
9
30
71
120
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
Stone Bund Tied Ridges Small Reservoir Small Reservoir
Yagha Kusele Kunyukuo Yeliyiri
No.
of H
H
No. of HH Start No. of HH Present
