Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
be categorised and discussed under the sources of investment being
government-led, non-governement-led or a combined effort between private
and government (eg. irrigation systems initiated privately and later receiving
government support). This approach is chosen because the investor usually
dictates the choices and decisions that are made to ensure the success of the
irrigation scheme or system.
The descriptions also cover the extent of development of such irrigation types
and their socio-economic impact in sub-Saharan Africa citing examples
where possible. In addition the description will also capture technology, crop
production, financial/technical support, market related issues and
development trend (successes and failures). The various management types
that exist under these systems are also discussed in some detail.
3.3.1
Government-Led Irrigation Development
Sub-Saharan Africa has benefitted from the development of government-led
irrigation schemes which begun during the colonial era. After the colonial era
subsequent governments and international agencies continued to develop
irrigation schemes. As a result most countries in sub-Saharan Africa have
developed a number of government-led irrigation schemes, ranging from a
few hectares to tens of thousands of hectares. Thus government-led irrigation
has produced irrigation schemes at all scales of magnitude being large,
medium and small. Some of the well-known government-led large-irrigation
schemes are: the Bakel Project of Senegal, the Bakolori Irrigation Project of
Nigeria, the Gezira scheme of Sudan, the Bura West scheme of Kenya and
the Office du Niger project of Mali. Government-led medium-scale irrigation
schemes are those that range from 100ha to about 5000ha such as the Vea
and Tono schemes in Ghana and many more. Small-scale government led-
irrigation schemes range from a few hectares to several tens of hectares.
Examples of small-scale irrigation systems are the small reservoirs developed
in the Northern parts of Ghana and parts of Burkina Faso. However, various
organizations and countries have developed their own scale categorisation for
irrigation projects. For example in Ethiopia irrigation projects are identified
as large-scale irrigation if the command area is greater than 3,000 ha,
medium-scale if it falls in the range of 200 to 3,000 ha, and small-scale if it
covers less than 200 ha (Awulachew et al., 2005).
Another group of government-led irrigation schemes are plantation schemes
which are usually developed jointly by governments and multinational
companies or development partners with the government having a
shareholding. Such plantation irrigation schemes are used for the cultivation
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