IMPLICATIONS OF IRRIGATION FARMING ON LIVELIHOODS OF SMALL HOLDER FARMER HOUSEHOLDS IN NADOWLI-KALEO DISTRICT

Abstract

This thesis investigated into the implications of irrigation farming on livelihoods of small holder farmer households in Nadowli-Kaleo District of the Upper West Region of Ghana. The main objective was to ascertain the implications of irrigation farming on livelihoods. Both explanatory and descriptive research designs were employed, involving quantitative and qualitative approaches. The study found that longer duration of the dry season was a major condition influencing the adoption of irrigation farming by households. It was also revealed that small-scale irrigated farmlands are generally less than one acre, characterized by the use of locally constructed canals to channel water from surface water bodies, as well as the use of hand dug wells. The main aim of households engaged in irrigation farming is to generate income during the dry season and to promote food security. High cost of inputs and information on how to acquire the right inputs were found to be the major challenges of irrigation farming. It was recommended that the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority should adopt participatory approaches in the planning and implementation of small-scale irrigation farming for sustainable livelihood promotion