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Transforming smallholder agriculture in Africa through irrigation: an assessment of irrigation impact pathways in Ghana

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  • Akudugu, Mamudu Abunga
  • Nyamadi, Ben Vas
  • Dittoh, Saa

Abstract

Agriculture in Africa is dominated by smallholder farmers who mostly undertake rain-fed agriculture. Unfortunately, the current trends of unpredictable rainfall patterns is putting the livelihoods of these smallholder farmers under threat. To overcome this threat, governments across Africa relentlessly invest in water harvesting strategies for irrigation purposes. Thus, the provision of irrigation facilities in strategic locations across Africa is deemed an important component of the agricultural transformation agenda being pursued in the continent. This paper therefore examines the role of irrigation in transforming smallholder agriculture in Africa by assessing the different impact pathways of irrigation, using Ghana as the case. The paper employs mixed methods that provide the opportunity for triangulation and cross validation. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using focus group discussions, key informant interviews and household survey questionnaires. The impacts of irrigation were analysed using propensity score matching (PSM) and narrations. The results indicate that irrigation has significant and positive impacts on farm output, income, employment, consumption, food security and non-farm businesses. The impacts of irrigation on health and environmental sustainability are mixed - the positive being the ability of irrigators to pay for improved healthcare for themselves and their families and the negatives include the outbreak of waterborne diseases associated with irrigation water. Construction of irrigation facilities causes destruction to the environment but improves provisioning ecosystem services. It is generally concluded that access to irrigation is associated with higher farm outputs, income levels, employment, consumption, food security, and engagement in non-farm business activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Akudugu, Mamudu Abunga & Nyamadi, Ben Vas & Dittoh, Saa, 2016. "Transforming smallholder agriculture in Africa through irrigation: an assessment of irrigation impact pathways in Ghana," 2016 Fifth International Conference, September 23-26, 2016, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 249285, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaae16:249285
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.249285
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Evan Borkum & Anitha Sivasankaran & Elena Moroz & Matt Sloan, "undated". "Evaluation of the Fruit Tree Productivity Project in Morocco: Final Report on Irrigation Activities," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 09644639569a4e0a8cb85cee5, Mathematica Policy Research.
    2. Caesar Agula & Mamudu Abunga Akudugu & Franklin Nantui Mabe & Saa Dittoh, 2018. "Promoting ecosystem-friendly irrigation farm management practices for sustainable livelihoods in Africa: the Ghanaian experience," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 6(1), pages 1-21, December.

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    Consumer/Household Economics; Environmental Economics and Policy; Production Economics;
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