Assessment of Opportunities for Small Scale Irrigation in the Ahafo-Ano South District

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2013-06
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The study assessed the opportunities for small-scale irrigation, in the Ahafo-Ano South District. The sustainability, method of water application, major crops grown, water resources and constraints to the development of small-scale irrigation in the District were also assessed. Irrigation development is one of the approaches to addressing problem of poverty which is given significant attention in the economic development programme in the Ahafo-Ano South District. Survey of 100 farmers randomly sampled from five (5) communities was carried out. The study areas are Mankranso, Adugyama, Potrikrom, Barniekrom and Dunyan Nkwanta. Semi-structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were undertaken to assess the opportunities for small-scale irrigation. Parameters such as water application methods, water resources and availability, type of crops cultivated, sustainability of water resources, constraints and opportunities, types of fertilizer used, land management programme were considered in the assessment. Descriptive statistics was used to assess the impact of small-scale irrigation on farmer’s livelihood before and after he/she adopts irrigation. The criteria for selection of communities’ ability were small-scale irrigation, availability of secondary data and the crops cultivated. The analysis of results and personal observations revealed that farmers face many problems, thus resulting in smaller farm size, poor yields and low marketability of the produce during the season. The research had given specific objectives. These were to ascertain the sustainability of water availability and its application for small-scale irrigation farming and to determine availability and quality of water for small-scale irrigation farming. It was revealed that, the District is endowed with many water resources to sustain any agricultural venture but water management and protection are the main key problems hindering sustainability. The district has two major rivers Mankran and Dunyan. The second objective was to determine water resources, their availability and quality for small-scale irrigation farming. As indicated from secondary data analysis water in the area is of high quality and hence its usefulness. Farmers using traditional river diversions for rice production and diesel pumps for vegetable production had higher mean gross household income than farmers not using irrigation and also to determine the Opportunities and constraints for small-scale irrigation farming. The district has substantial water resource potential. What is constraining production is access to appropriate water management technologies infrastructure and institutional support services including finance, road, market, knowledge and capacity for technology development, pumps breakdowns and enabling the environment for effective private sector involvement.
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A Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in Soil and Water Engineering.
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