DESCRIPTION OF IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE WHITE VOLTA SUB-BASIN - Sustainable Irrigation Development in the White Volta Sub-Basin - page 110

interactions held with farmers, farmer groups, NGOs, researchers, Ministry
of Agriculture, Traditional Authorities and markets associated with
irrigation inputs and products.
5.2 S TRUCTURE OF C HAPTER
This chapter first defines the terms ‚irrigation scheme‛ and ‚irrigation
technology‛ followed by a description of the prevailing irrigation technologies
in the study area. The description of irrigation technologies includes the
following: historical background and development trend, infrastructure and
technology, biophysical characteristics and management.
5.3 D EFINITION OF I RRIGATION S CHEMES AND
T ECHNOLOGIES
The concept of ‚irrigation scheme‛ conveys the idea of large-scale and
comprehensive development, as these used to be developed by colonial and
post-colonial governments; the latter mostly assisted by international
development banks such as the World Bank and IFAD, and managed by
government agencies (Kay, 2001). Examples of irrigation schemes were
discussed in the previous chapter, such as the Vea and Tono Irrigation
Schemes of the Upper East Region of Ghana and the Office du Niger
irrigation scheme of Mali.
In the 1980s attention turned to the informal sector, and to small-scale or
smallholder irrigation, which is described as the 'bottom-up' or 'grass-roots'
approach to development, where in most cases farmers were respnosbile for
(part of) the investments themselves. Experience in sub-Saharan Africa has
shown that successful smallholders generally use simple technologies and
have secure water supplies over which they have full control. This is
irrigation practised by individual farmers or smallholders, usually farming on
a small scale (a few hectares) under their own responsibility; usually at low-
cost with little or no government support and using technologies they
understand and can manage easily themselves (Kay, 2001).
What is currently happening in the White Volta sub-basin is exactly the
type of irrigation development which is not centrally planned and developed.
It is initiated by local people who combine land, water and technology in
original ways to irrigate. This development can best be described by
considering the various irrigation technologies that are emerging.
Technology can significantly reduce the drudgery of lifting and applying
water and can help solve water management problems faced by small-scale