INTRODUCTION - Sustainable Irrigation Development in the White Volta Sub-Basin - page 7

of various stakeholders of the socio-political hierarchy, based on the
principles of collective action and management at the lowest appropriate
level, has become a core approach of watershed management (Molle et al.,
2007).
Van de Giesen et al. (2001) identify rrigation development in the upstream
sections of the Volta Basin and hydropower generation at Akosombo as the
main competing water uses. This research quantifies the downstream impact
of irrigation development and provides some recommendations concerning
future development of the water resources in the White Volta sub-basin.
1.5 R ESEARCH O BJECTIVES
In sub-Saharan Africa the best option to enhance food security is investment
in both rainfed and irrigated agriculture. Both Governments and the private
sector will continue to invest in irrigation development; however their policies
need to be informed by empirical evidence and comparative analysis.
The purpose of this research, then, is to enhance the understanding of
effective and sustainable irrigation development in the White Volta sub-basin
in the wake of increasing small-scale irrigation development taking into
account other important economic benefits produced by downstream uses.
The objectives of the study are listed as follows:
1. To produce a comprehensive description of irrigation technologies in
the White Volta sub-basin
2. To compare the productivities of the prevailing irrigation technologies
in the White Volta sub-basin
3. To determine the past trend and forecast the future of irrigation
development in the White Volta sub-basin
4. To assess the impact of upscaling irrigation development in the White
Volta sub-basin on competing water uses, including those
downstream, and evaluate the implications for sustainable water
resources management.
1.6 T HESIS O UTLINE
This thesis is presented in nine chapters. The present chapter has introduced
the research.
Chapter 2 describes the study area from the Volta Basin, the White Volta
sub-basin to the selected catchments within the White Volta sub-basin. The