Title: Examining Smallholder Farmers’ Perceptions of Irrigation Access in the Volta Region, Ghana
Stream: Humanities - Science, Environment and the Humanities
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Authors:
Michael Kossivi Tamekloe, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Kenichi Matsui, University of Tsukuba, Japan
Abstract:
Past studies that emphasized the importance of irrigation access for smallholder farmers focused on different sets of factors for irrigation adoption. Some emphasized cultural norms, local practices, and personal experiences. Some others examined geographical locations, farm size, access to water sources, and socio-economic status. This study attempted to find what factors above or others actually influence smallholder farmers’ perceptions of irrigation access and needs. A structured questionnaire survey was randomly administered among 282 smallholder farmers in South and North Tongu districts of Ghana from January to February 2024. The data were analyzed using SPSS and Excel. We also correlated respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics with their irrigation access. We found that among 94% of the respondents who needed to irrigate their farms, 68% could not because of water scarcity. About 93% found that the cost of connecting irrigation ditches to their farms was inhibiting. Another cost-related factor was energy/electricity for pumping water (89%) and maintenance (89%). About 55% blamed neighboring farmlands for blocking canal routes to their farms. Some neighbors diverted more water than their fair share, causing shortages for those downstream. Others blamed a lack of irrigation water access on start-up capital (95%), technical support (44%), and infrastructure (74%). Our statistical analysis found that household income, education, and gender had significant correlations with farmers’ perceptions of irrigation access.
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