Agriculture Reference
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production and protect riverine ecosystem services. Such a maximum
development level should be decided by the Volta Basin Authority, in
consultation with major stakeholders, including the Volta River Authority.
Figures 8.14 and 8.15 can serve as an initial guide for determining such a
threshold.
8.6.4 Implications for Sustainable Water
Resources Management
The current level of irrigation development in the study area does not pose
challenges to water resources management. It does not affect competing
water uses neither does it impact on the sustainability of the water resources.
Based on the current irrigation growth in the White Volta sub-basin of
5%/a, current irrigation may more than double by 2025. When this occurs,
inflows into the Volta Lake will be reduced by about 8.8%. This has
potential consequences on the hydropower generation at Akosombo.
The benefits obtained from irrigation upstream (financial and social),
however exceed the financial benefits obtained from hydropower. This makes
irrigation development more profitable and as such maximizes the benefits
derived from the water resources of the basin. However it is important to
manage the water resources such that irrigation development does not cause
significant environmental harm nor significant economic harm to hydropower
generation at Akosombo. This calls for prudent water resources management
of the basin to ensure maximum benefits and long-term sustainability.
To achieve this, the following activities are recommended:
Monitor water resource development in the White Volta sub-basin
Monitor and quantify the competing water uses in the sub-basin
Establish information flows between upstream and downstream water
users
Set up institutions at appropriate levels to ensure effective water
resources management
8.6.5 Conclusions and Recommendations
The study has established that irrigation development in the three
catchments studied is less than 2% of the total study area: 1% for Anayari,
0.8% for Atankwidi, and 2.6% for Yarigatanga. About 90% of all irrigation in
Yarigatanga is sourced from surface water, while 85% of all irrigation in the
Atankwidi and Anayari catchments is sourced from shallow groundwater.
There is a high potential for the upscaling of irrigation development in the
basin. However there are sustainability limits for both surface water and
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