Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
portions of the Vea scheme (see Figures 7.2 and 7.3). ICOUR records on
irrigated areas in Vea show a general decline over the past 30 years.
The average irrigation growth rate in the study area is 5.6%/a over 5 years.
The major contributor to this trend is the upscaling of private-led irrigation
systems. Private-led irrigation is 74% of the total irrigated area in the study
area. Comparing this to the reported maximum rate of irrigation
development (2.3%/a) across sub-Saharan Africa makes the gowth in the
White Volta sub-basin impressive (You et al., 2010). Most of the studies
conducted across sub-Saharan Africa have focused on formal irrigation
schemes. This study shows that the contribution of private-led irrigation is
significant in the study area. It is therefore important to consider such
private led (and sometimes called informal) irrigation development in all
parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The potential for the upscaling of private-led
irrigation is high and thus factors influencing the past trend are worth
investigating. Findings can help inform policy making in support of irrigation
development.
7.3.4 Factors Influencing Past Trend
Having established the historical trend of irrigation development in the study
area, this section tries to identify and assess the factors that have influenced
the past trend of irrigation development. The factors identified are: (1) rising
demand for vegetable products in the urban centres of southern Ghana, (2)
challenges farmers had with existing government-led irrigation systems, (3)
availability of appropriate irrigation technologies, (4) favourable land-tenure
system, and (5) availability of cheap labour and farm inputs.
Market for Vegetables
The major contributor to the expansion of irrigation in the study area is the
rising demand for vegetable products in the urban centres of southern
Ghana. The increasing rate of urbanisation in Ghana, coupled with
increasing population has both contributed to the increasing demand for
vegetables. There are three major sources, of vegetables (especially
tomatoes) for urban centres in Ghana (coastal area, middle-belt and Upper
East Region). Each of these centres has a specific production period. From
the month of January to early May the main source of tomatoes is the
Upper East Region; from May to early September the production area of
tomatoes is the middle-belt of Ghana (Ashanti, Eastern and Brong-Ahafo
Regions) and from September to December it is the coastal belt (Keta and
its surrounding areas). Therefore the Upper East Region is assured of
reliable markets every year (see Figure 7.3a). The production season of the
Search WWH ::
Custom Search