IS LARGE-SCALE PUBLIC IRRIGATION THE WAYFORWARD FOR SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA? - Sustainable Irrigation Development in the White Volta Sub-Basin - page 81

Table 4.1: Some large-scale irrigation schemes in the White Volta sub-basin
of Burkina Faso.

Irrigation
Scheme

Year of
completion

Purpose Potential

Irrigable Area
(ha)

Developed
Irrigable Area
(ha)

Bagre 1992 Hydro-power

and Irrigation

30,000 2,140

Sourou 1985 Irrigation 30,000 2,000

Loumbila 1970 Irrigation and

water supply

1000 60

Savili 1978 Irrigation and

livestock

700 42

Tensobenenga 1960 Irrigation and

water supply

200 100

(source: FAO, 2005; Molden, 1998; Van den Bossche and Bernacsek, 1990)

The White Volta sub-basin of Ghana
The potential irrigable area in the White Volta sub-basin of Ghana is
314,200 ha. The total actual irrigated area in the Volta Basin of Ghana is
about 6,500ha (Wiafe, 1997). There are three large reservoir irrigation
schemes developed: the Vea irrigation scheme developed in 1975 with an
irrigable area of 850ha, the Tono irrigation scheme opened in 1985 with an
irrigable area of 2,207ha and the Bontanga irrigation scheme opened in 1986
with an irrigable area of 450ha.

4.3 C ASE S TUDY ON THE V EA AND T ONO
I RRIGATION S CHEMES

The Vea irrigation scheme is the only large irrigation scheme within the
study area. But the Vea and Tono schemes both in the Upper East Region of
Ghana are managed by one public institution (Irrigation Company of Upper
Region). They have been operating for more than twenty years. Investigating
and analysing the experiences gained may contribute to our understanding of
sustainable irrigation development in Africa.

4.3.1 Methodology and Data Collection
The study employed the following: (a) a literature review on the two
projects, review of project documents, consultancy reports, operational
reports for two years, production figures from 1985-2007 and corperate plans