IRRIGATION AND HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS: EVIDENCE FROM VEA IRRIGATION IN THE BONGO DISTRICT OF THE UPPER EAST REGION IN GHANA

Abstract

This thesis examined the food security status of farming households in the catchment communities of the Vea irrigation Dam in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Particularly the study examined the influence of household heads’ participation in irrigation farming on household food security status. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Households were selected from four communities namely, Vea, Bongo Nyariga, Gowrie, and Zaare. A total of 160 households responded to the survey. However, due to incomplete or inconsistent data, 12 households were disregarded. The remaining 148 farming households were included for the data analysis. Structured interview schedule was used as the main data collection instrument. Food consumption data of the 148 households were used for the analysis of food security. The study reveals that (45.3%) of the farming household were found to be food secured. Whereas only 65.2% of irrigation farming households were food secured, 27.8% of non-irrigation farming households were food secured. Further, the logit model revealed that household size, donkey ownership, participation in non-farm activities, access to irrigation and credit service were significant determinants of household food security status. From the perspectives of the household heads that, erratic rainfall pattern, lack of income generating alternatives are some constraints to household food security situation in the area. The study therefore recommends that, farmers within the catchment area of irrigation should be encouraged to patronise irrigation so as to boost the production capacities of farming households to help alleviate poverty and address food insecurity.