Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
removes the sand sealing the entrance of the next trench. He repeats this
cycle until the farm is completely irrigated. After watering the farm the
farmer either directs the water to the next farmer or closes the spout on the
lateral from where he/she directed the water.
Figure 4.5: a) Pumping water from main canal in Vea b) Main canal
transporting water by gravity to the fields in Vea
Rice growers use what is called basin flooding to water their crops. Rice
farmers subdivide their plots into smaller units of about 20m 2 and they
transplant the rice into them. What basin flooding means here is that, the
plots are completely inundated with water to varying depths of water above
the ground level (5 - 10cm).
During the period of research the Tono irrigation scheme was undergoing
rehabilitation (which started in March 2008 and was completed by the end of
2010). The rehabilitation entailed reshaping of the main access road and dam
wall to control erosion, replacement of concrete lining of the main and lateral
canals, construction of washing bays, culverts, water control gates, and
clearing of main drains. The rehabilitation is being done at a cost of $7.9
million and it is sponsored by the Government of Ghana? The government of
Ghana is planning to also rehabilitate the Vea scheme.
Irrigation Land Management
The irrigable land in Vea and Tono are divided into three sub-categories.
The major part is for local small-scale farmers, another part for
contract/commercial farmers and the third part for ICOUR demonstration
sites. Land for local farmers are managed with the village committees and
that for contract/commercial farmers are handled directly by ICOUR.
The two large reservoir irrigation schemes have problems with land tenure
which have played major roles in the management of irrigation in these
schemes. Since the first fields were developed for irrigated agriculture at Vea
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