Case Study Groundwater Irrigation Northeast Ghana - Revision history

LaurenGiles: /* Hydrogeology */ grammar

2023-11-27T11:53:43Z

Hydrogeology: grammar

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	It is also possible to hand dig shallow wells into weathered basement (regolith) aquifers, where fracturing and weathering has changed the hard basement rocks into sands, gravels, silts and clays. These weathered zone aquifers can be up to about 20 m thick. These aquifers may be present below farms away from river valleys.		It is also possible to hand dig shallow wells into weathered basement (regolith) aquifers, where fracturing and weathering has changed the hard basement rocks into sands, gravels, silts and clays. These weathered zone aquifers can be up to about 20 m thick. These aquifers may be present below farms away from river valleys.

	Find out more about the hydrogeology of different aquifers in Ghana on the [~~http~~://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Hydrogeology_of_Ghana#Hydrogeology Hydrogeology of Ghana] page.		Find out more about the hydrogeology of different aquifers in Ghana on the [https://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Hydrogeology_of_Ghana#Hydrogeology Hydrogeology of Ghana] page.

	If the local aquifer isn’t suitable for hand digging shallow wells, then the options for shallow groundwater use by farmers for irrigation are far more limited. If the local aquifers are formed of unweathered rock – e.g. consolidated sandstone – then mechanically drilled boreholes are likely to be the only option for groundwater abstraction.		If the local aquifer isn’t suitable for hand digging shallow wells, then the options for shallow groundwater use by farmers for irrigation are far more limited. If the local aquifers are formed of unweathered rock – e.g. consolidated sandstone – then mechanically drilled boreholes are likely to be the only option for groundwater abstraction.
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	Remote sensing studies have indicated that there is good potential for groundwater use from basement and consolidated sandstone and other sedimentary aquifers across parts of northeast Ghana (Forkuor et al. 2013, Gumma & Pavelic 2013). However, as mechanically drilled boreholes and mechanical or motorised pumps are likely to be needed in most cases in these aquifers, the costs of accessing and using this groundwater are higher than for the informal technologies currently used by most small scale farmers in the region.		Remote sensing studies have indicated that there is good potential for groundwater use from basement and consolidated sandstone and other sedimentary aquifers across parts of northeast Ghana (Forkuor et al. 2013, Gumma & Pavelic 2013). However, as mechanically drilled boreholes and mechanical or motorised pumps are likely to be needed in most cases in these aquifers, the costs of accessing and using this groundwater are higher than for the informal technologies currently used by most small scale farmers in the region.

	In some areas, poor groundwater quality can limit its use. ~~In nitrate~~ concentrations in groundwater have been measured and are too high for drinking – for example, around Bawku and Zalerigu – but this groundwater can be, and is, used for irrigation. In other parts of the White Volta Basin, groundwater with naturally high salinity is found in basement aquifers, making it unsuitable for irrigation (Namara et al. 2011).		In some areas, poor groundwater quality can limit its use. Nitrate concentrations in groundwater have been measured and are too high for drinking – for example, around Bawku and Zalerigu – but this groundwater can be, and is, used for irrigation. In other parts of the White Volta Basin, groundwater with naturally high salinity is found in basement aquifers, making it unsuitable for irrigation (Namara et al. 2011).

	===Sources===		===Sources===

Beod at 10:59, 2 July 2019

2019-07-02T10:59:01Z

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	[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Groundwater irrigation in Africa \| Groundwater and irrigation in Africa]] or >> [[Case studies \| Case studies]] >> Groundwater irrigation in northeast Ghana		[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Groundwater irrigation in Africa \| Groundwater and irrigation in Africa]] or >> [[Case studies \| Case studies]] >> Case study: Groundwater irrigation in northeast Ghana

			Please cite page as: Africa Groundwater Atlas. 2019. Case study: Groundwater irrigation in northeast Ghana. British Geological Survey. Accessed [date you accessed the information]. ''Weblink''.

Beod at 10:02, 28 March 2018

2018-03-28T10:02:26Z

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	Go to the [[Hydrogeology of Ghana \| Hydrogeology of Ghana]] page.		Go to the [[Hydrogeology of Ghana \| '''Hydrogeology of Ghana''']] page.

Beod at 10:02, 28 March 2018

2018-03-28T10:02:16Z

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	[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Groundwater irrigation in Africa \| Groundwater and irrigation in Africa]] or >> [[Case studies \| Case studies]] >> Groundwater irrigation in northeast Ghana		[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Groundwater irrigation in Africa \| Groundwater and irrigation in Africa]] or >> [[Case studies \| Case studies]] >> Groundwater irrigation in northeast Ghana


			Go to the [[Hydrogeology of Ghana \| Hydrogeology of Ghana]] page.

Beod at 09:12, 28 March 2018

2018-03-28T09:12:45Z

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	[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Groundwater irrigation in Africa \| Groundwater and irrigation in Africa]] >> Case ~~study:~~ Groundwater irrigation in northeast Ghana		[[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Groundwater irrigation in Africa \| Groundwater and irrigation in Africa]] or >> [[Case studies \| Case studies]] >> Groundwater irrigation in northeast Ghana


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	Return to [[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Groundwater irrigation in Africa \| Groundwater and irrigation in Africa]]		Return to [[Africa Groundwater Atlas Home \| Africa Groundwater Atlas]] >> [[Additional resources \| Additional resources]] >> [[Groundwater irrigation in Africa \| Groundwater and irrigation in Africa]] or [[Case studies \| Case studies]]

	[[Category: Case study]]		[[Category:Case study]]

	[[Category:Additional resources]]		[[Category:Additional resources]]

	[[Category:Africa Groundwater Atlas]]		[[Category:Africa Groundwater Atlas]]

Beod at 09:09, 28 March 2018

2018-03-28T09:09:54Z

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	[[File:GhanaInFieldHDW-CGIAR.jpg\|thumb\| 400px\|center\| An in-field hand dug well in northeast Ghana, used with rope-and-bucket abstraction. Image credit: [https://wle.cgiar.org/thrive/2016/02/14/3-lessons-ghana-womens-access-land-and-water CGIAR]]		[[File:GhanaInFieldHDW-CGIAR.jpg\|thumb\| 400px\|center\| An in-field hand dug well in northeast Ghana, used with rope-and-bucket abstraction. Image credit: [https://wle.cgiar.org/thrive/2016/02/14/3-lessons-ghana-womens-access-land-and-water CGIAR]]]

	===Economics and income benefits===		===Economics and income benefits===

Beod at 09:09, 28 March 2018

2018-03-28T09:09:33Z

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	[[File:GhanaInFieldHDW-CGIAR.jpg\|thumb\| 400px\|center\| An in-field hand dug well in northeast Ghana, used with rope-and-bucket abstraction. Image ~~from~~ https://wle.cgiar.org/thrive/2016/02/14/3-lessons-ghana-womens-access-land-and-water		[[File:GhanaInFieldHDW-CGIAR.jpg\|thumb\| 400px\|center\| An in-field hand dug well in northeast Ghana, used with rope-and-bucket abstraction. Image credit: [https://wle.cgiar.org/thrive/2016/02/14/3-lessons-ghana-womens-access-land-and-water CGIAR]]
	]]

	===Economics and income benefits===		===Economics and income benefits===

Beod: /* Sources */

2017-12-05T15:16:34Z

Sources

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	Barry B and Forkuor G. 2010. Contribution of informal shallow groundwater irrigation to livelihoods security and poverty reduction in the White Volta Basin (WVB): Current status and future sustainability. CPWF Project Report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF). www.waterandfood.org		Barry B and Forkuor G. 2010. Contribution of informal shallow groundwater irrigation to livelihoods security and poverty reduction in the White Volta Basin (WVB): Current status and future sustainability. CPWF Project Report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF). www.waterandfood.org

	~~Saa Dittoh JAA. and Akuriba MA. 2013. Small pumps and the poor: a field survey in the Upper East Region of Ghana, Water International, 38:4, 449-464, doi: 10.1080/02508060.2013.819454~~

	Evans AEV, Giordano M and Clayton T (Eds.). 2012. Investing in agricultural water management to benefit smallholder farmers in Ghana. AgWater Solutions Project country synthesis report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 37p. IWMI Working Paper 147. doi: 10.5337/2012.209		Evans AEV, Giordano M and Clayton T (Eds.). 2012. Investing in agricultural water management to benefit smallholder farmers in Ghana. AgWater Solutions Project country synthesis report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 37p. IWMI Working Paper 147. doi: 10.5337/2012.209

	Namara RE, Awuni JA, Barry B, Giordano M, Hope L, Owusu ES and Forkuor G. 2011. Smallholder shallow groundwater irrigation development in the upper east region of Ghana. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute. 35p. IWMI Research Report 143. doi: 10.5337/2011.214

	Forkuor G, Pavelic P, Asare E and Obuobie E. 2013. Modelling potential areas of groundwater development for agriculture in northern Ghana using GIS/RS, Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58:2, 437-451, DOI: 10.1080/02626667.2012.754101		Forkuor G, Pavelic P, Asare E and Obuobie E. 2013. Modelling potential areas of groundwater development for agriculture in northern Ghana using GIS/RS, Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58:2, 437-451, DOI: 10.1080/02626667.2012.754101

	Gumma MK and Pavelic P. 2013. Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 185 (4), 3561-3579		Gumma MK and Pavelic P. 2013. Mapping of groundwater potential zones across Ghana using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and spatial modeling. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 185 (4), 3561-3579

			Namara RE, Awuni JA, Barry B, Giordano M, Hope L, Owusu ES and Forkuor G. 2011. Smallholder shallow groundwater irrigation development in the upper east region of Ghana. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute. 35p. IWMI Research Report 143. doi: 10.5337/2011.214

			Saa Dittoh JAA. and Akuriba MA. 2013. Small pumps and the poor: a field survey in the Upper East Region of Ghana, Water International, 38:4, 449-464, doi: 10.1080/02508060.2013.819454

Beod: /* Sources */

2017-12-05T14:15:01Z

Sources

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:15, 5 December 2017
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	Barry B and Forkuor G. 2010. Contribution of informal shallow groundwater irrigation to livelihoods security and poverty reduction in the White Volta Basin (WVB): Current status and future sustainability. CPWF Project Report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF). www.waterandfood.org		Barry B and Forkuor G. 2010. Contribution of informal shallow groundwater irrigation to livelihoods security and poverty reduction in the White Volta Basin (WVB): Current status and future sustainability. CPWF Project Report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF). www.waterandfood.org

	Saa Dittoh JAA. and Akuriba MA. 2013. Small pumps and the poor: a field survey in the Upper East Region of Ghana, Water International, 38:4, 449-464, ~~DOI~~: 10.1080/02508060.2013.819454		Saa Dittoh JAA. and Akuriba MA. 2013. Small pumps and the poor: a field survey in the Upper East Region of Ghana, Water International, 38:4, 449-464, doi: 10.1080/02508060.2013.819454

	Evans AEV, Giordano M and Clayton T (Eds.). 2012. Investing in agricultural water management to benefit smallholder farmers in Ghana. AgWater Solutions Project country synthesis report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 37p. IWMI Working Paper 147. doi: 10.5337/2012.209		Evans AEV, Giordano M and Clayton T (Eds.). 2012. Investing in agricultural water management to benefit smallholder farmers in Ghana. AgWater Solutions Project country synthesis report. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 37p. IWMI Working Paper 147. doi: 10.5337/2012.209

Beod: /* Economics and income benefits */

2017-12-05T14:14:33Z

Economics and income benefits

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:14, 5 December 2017
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	Incomes from this small scale irrigated agriculture can be up to 1.5 to 4.9 times as profitable as rainfed agriculture, depending on the technology used to abstract the groundwater (electric pumps, mechanical pumps or buckets). So, irrigated dry season farming can provide more than half the annual cropping income of irrigating households. Irrigation is associated with increased asset ownership. This may just be because wealthier people are more able to invest in irrigation technology, but if irrigation then increases incomes, there could be a positive cycle of accumulation.		Incomes from this small scale irrigated agriculture can be up to 1.5 to 4.9 times as profitable as rainfed agriculture, depending on the technology used to abstract the groundwater (electric pumps, mechanical pumps or buckets). So, irrigated dry season farming can provide more than half the annual cropping income of irrigating households. Irrigation is associated with increased asset ownership. This may just be because wealthier people are more able to invest in irrigation technology, but if irrigation then increases incomes, there could be a positive cycle of accumulation.

	In Bawku West and Talensi Nabdam, the most economically efficient irrigation system, with the highest profits per ~~acre~~, is in-field hand dug shallow wells using rope-and-bucket. However, the total area that can be watered in this way is just 0.3 hectares, so households using this option can struggle to earn a minimum income. Constraints on access to land due to other reasons, including relatively high population densities, is another limiting factor.		In Bawku West and Talensi Nabdam, the most economically efficient irrigation system, with the highest profits per hectare, is in-field hand dug shallow wells using rope-and-bucket. However, the total area that can be watered in this way is just 0.3 hectares, so households using this option can struggle to earn a minimum income. Constraints on access to land due to other reasons, including relatively high population densities, is another limiting factor.

	The Namara et al. (2011) study found that the costs of constructing mechanically drilled boreholes are low compared to the costs of other agricultural inputs, especially paying for labour at average day rates. However, in reality, because dry season employment is low in northeast Ghana, most agricultural work is done by family labour, for which there is little opportunity cost. This explains why dry season groundwater irrigated vegetable production remains an attractive livelihood activity.		The Namara et al. (2011) study found that the costs of constructing mechanically drilled boreholes are low compared to the costs of other agricultural inputs, especially paying for labour at average day rates. However, in reality, because dry season employment is low in northeast Ghana, most agricultural work is done by family labour, for which there is little opportunity cost. This explains why dry season groundwater irrigated vegetable production remains an attractive livelihood activity.


	===Hydrogeology===		===Hydrogeology===