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Ghana West Africa Water Initiative - Phase IV - n/a Enterprise & Agriculture Ghana 2002 - 2007 Conrad Hilton Foundation |
Provide Reliable Potable Water Supplies to Rural Areas of Ghana
RATIONALEAlthough Northern Ghana receives about 40 inches of rain per year, this rainfall is concentrated in a brief three-month period allowing the production of only one rainfed crop of cotton, rice, sorghum, or other grain crop. For the remaining nine months of the year, farmers do not generally produce crops because they have little familiarity with irrigation methods.
OBJECTIVES
Develop an irrigated agriculture program to improve rural nutrition and increase the incomes of farm families through production of high value crops.
ACTIVITIES
The planning phase will be conducted over a two-year period. Demonstrations will be set up at sites in each of the districts where adequate water resources are available. Depending on the hydrological, agricultural, and market conditions, various types of micro-irrigation equipment will be demonstrated. Winrock in-country staff will provide training and monitoring of activities at these sites. Data, together with additional studies, will result in a report recommending whether to proceed with a second, long-term phase. The long-term phase will involve the promotion and supply of those inputs as well as an agricultural extension program to assure that farmers are trained and utilize the equipment and inputs successfully. A marketing program will help assure that farmers have adequate markets for their produce. Evaluation and feedback are necessary in fine tuning the program, coordinating activities, and assuring that goals are met.