EFFECTS OF SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION ON RURAL POVERTY REDUCTION IN THE UPPER EAST REGION: A CASE STUDY IN BOLGATANCA MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

The Government of Ghana since independence has undertaken the construction of a considerable number of small-scale dams in the Upper East Region to increase water accessibility for small-scale irrigation. The main objective of this study was to examine the impact of improved agricultural water access and use of small-scale irrigation schemes on poverty reduction and food security. A semi-structured interviewer questionnaire was used to collect information from three purposefully sampled communities on: crops grown and irrigated; perception of poverty, food security; sources and means used to ensure food availability. A total of 235 farmers were surveyed. Of the 120 irrigation farmers who participated in the survey, more than half (57%) indicated that they engaged in irrigation farming to supplement their household food requirements, while almost a third (28%) indicated that through irrigation they could support their children's education. More than two-thirds (67%) of respondents reported having acquired household assets through irrigation farming. The main sources of income for irrigation fanners came from the sale of farm produce (84%), mostly from dry season irrigated crops, as compared to (13%) of rain-fed farmers. Almost all (94%, N = 112) of the irrigators reported that income earned from sales of irrigated crops was used to purchase food to supplement their rainy season staple crop production, followed by the payment of school fees (84%, N = 100) and health care expenses It can be concluded that the small-scale irrigation schemes, which provided access to irrigated agriculture for year-round crop diversification provide self-employment for participants and improve their household income and access to marketable food as well as other soc-economic benefits. The study therefore recommends that the existing small scale irrigation dams should be rehabilitated and the construction of new ones should be intensified to cover all areas in northern Ghana that have low lands for potential irrigation development. . The Government also should play a direct role in extension service training and provision of other technical support services, like training on small-dam construction, scheme design and the production of manuals for design and management of micro-dams and water diversion structures.