Improved integrated water management for agriculture in Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study gives an overview of the use of indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) and water management interventions in the Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana, and suggests research and development options to improve water management in the region. Water management practices were investigated in 16 villages in the region, using participatory methods and tools. Data were gathered in two phases: the first phase covered the use of ITK by farmers; and the second phase was an in-depth study into the use and management of interventions like dams, dugouts, and boreholes. During the study, the various stakeholders interviewed consisted of farmers and organisations such as governmental, non-governmental and research institutions with influence on water management. A typology of water management intervention in the study area was constructed. Resource flow, indicating the influence of interventions on internal and external flows within the crop-livestock-fishery system, was identified to create a clear understanding of the complex interactions within the system. Research and development options emerging from the analysis of the data were screened and prioritised to obtain the most suitable options for development. The chosen options indicated the importance of more effective use of available water as well as more efficient storage of water at the catchment level.

Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 38, 2005: 29-42