Despite public-sector attempts at developing irrigation, most smallholder farmers in Northern Gha... more Despite public-sector attempts at developing irrigation, most smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana still rely on manual methods to irrigate dry-season vegetables on small acreages. A field survey was carried out to ascertain the potential of motorized pumps in irrigated agriculture in the region. The findings indicate that use of pumps is far more beneficial than other irrigation methods, and rainfed farming in general, and irrigators generally regard their pumps as "saviours". The major problem for the majority of farmers is the lack of financial means to purchase the pumps.
Climate change has become a developmental issue across the world. This paper examines the implica... more Climate change has become a developmental issue across the world. This paper examines the implication of climate change on food security and rural livelihoods in northern Ghana. It focuses on the effect of climate change on the principal coordinates of food security and livelihoods of households in northern Ghana. Participant observations and key informant interviews were the main data collection methods employed. The main finding is that communities that hitherto never experienced floods and droughts are now faced with the realities of these natural phenomena and these are adversely affecting food security and household livelihoods. It is recommended that government and its development partners need to adopt a holistic approach to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in northern Ghana if the MDGs are to be achieved.
Dry season smallholder irrigated vegetable production in the arid and semi-arid parts of the West... more Dry season smallholder irrigated vegetable production in the arid and semi-arid parts of the West African sub-region has been an important income generating activity and a means of engaging productive labour for many decades. Crop production has often been on less than half an acre per irrigator due to several constraints including low watertable in the case of shallow well irrigators; poorly constructed dams, silting rivers and streams and water lifting constraints in the case of surface water irrigators; and limited market opportunities, among others. The resultant output per person, and thus income generated per worker, has been very low with high risks of unsustainable production. Attempts at "modern" irrigation systems in the sub-region have been largely unsuccessful but some of the micro irrigation systems operated by smallholders seem to be performing satisfactorily. That is an indication that "affordable micro-irrigation for vegetables" (AMIV) systems could be the answer for improving irrigated vegetable production in West Africa.
Food and nutrition insecurity, manifested in the form of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and/or... more Food and nutrition insecurity, manifested in the form of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and/or micronutrient malnutrition (MM) continues to be a very serious problem in West Africa. One may easily understand the problem in conflict areas but it is also quite severe in many non-conflict rural areas and urban slums of West Africa.
This last chapter presents the results of expert prioritisation of policy recommendations that em... more This last chapter presents the results of expert prioritisation of policy recommendations that emerged from the ICCD programme. Experts gave the highest priority to developing an adequate early warning system with an efficient strategy to communicate with households and institutions. It is necessary for a better understanding of climate change and its effects and for the development of technologies adapted to location and sector specific conditions. In addition, high priority was given to maintaining social security mechanisms, understanding migration strategies and regulating land and water entitlements. Careful attention is needed for potential conflicts when resources become scarce. Local government and non-government organisations need support to monitor economic changes and to implement local policies. Agricultural research plays an important role in developing technologies that perform well under drought conditions. International agreements on climate change implications may be exploited for example by redefining subsidy practices. Finally there is plenty of scope for improving scientific research on climate change by extending research networks, by fine-tuning the ICCD models, and by expanding the geographic area of research.
The case study area of North-east Ghana consists of a densely populated zone in Upper East Region... more The case study area of North-east Ghana consists of a densely populated zone in Upper East Region and a less densely populated area in Northern Region. It was selected as an example of a rural area with sub-humid conditions, a relatively high average population density and relatively severe land degradation. A major part of the chapter describes the lack of consistency between rainfall data and crop yield data and tries to explain farmers’ behaviour as a constant adaptation to the rainfall situation, embedded in a volatile socio-economic environment. Farmers acknowledge climate change, and they, government institutions and non-governmental agencies have responded with more emphasis on water provision and land management improvements and with more emphasis on sector and geographical differentiation, including much more reliance on migration and remittance income.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) underscore an overriding importance of human development ... more The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) underscore an overriding importance of human development for sustained economic, social, political and other development, and nutrition is the beginning of human development. Nutrition has, however, not been viewed as a development imperative in many African countries. Agricultural and health policies, projects and programmes and the conduct of agricultural and health research in most African countries do not consider nutrition to any significant degree.
Despite public-sector attempts at developing irrigation, most smallholder farmers in Northern Gha... more Despite public-sector attempts at developing irrigation, most smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana still rely on manual methods to irrigate dry-season vegetables on small acreages. A field survey was carried out to ascertain the potential of motorized pumps in irrigated agriculture in the region. The findings indicate that use of pumps is far more beneficial than other irrigation methods, and rainfed farming in general, and irrigators generally regard their pumps as "saviours". The major problem for the majority of farmers is the lack of financial means to purchase the pumps.
Climate change has become a developmental issue across the world. This paper examines the implica... more Climate change has become a developmental issue across the world. This paper examines the implication of climate change on food security and rural livelihoods in northern Ghana. It focuses on the effect of climate change on the principal coordinates of food security and livelihoods of households in northern Ghana. Participant observations and key informant interviews were the main data collection methods employed. The main finding is that communities that hitherto never experienced floods and droughts are now faced with the realities of these natural phenomena and these are adversely affecting food security and household livelihoods. It is recommended that government and its development partners need to adopt a holistic approach to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in northern Ghana if the MDGs are to be achieved.
Dry season smallholder irrigated vegetable production in the arid and semi-arid parts of the West... more Dry season smallholder irrigated vegetable production in the arid and semi-arid parts of the West African sub-region has been an important income generating activity and a means of engaging productive labour for many decades. Crop production has often been on less than half an acre per irrigator due to several constraints including low watertable in the case of shallow well irrigators; poorly constructed dams, silting rivers and streams and water lifting constraints in the case of surface water irrigators; and limited market opportunities, among others. The resultant output per person, and thus income generated per worker, has been very low with high risks of unsustainable production. Attempts at "modern" irrigation systems in the sub-region have been largely unsuccessful but some of the micro irrigation systems operated by smallholders seem to be performing satisfactorily. That is an indication that "affordable micro-irrigation for vegetables" (AMIV) systems could be the answer for improving irrigated vegetable production in West Africa.
Food and nutrition insecurity, manifested in the form of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and/or... more Food and nutrition insecurity, manifested in the form of protein energy malnutrition (PEM) and/or micronutrient malnutrition (MM) continues to be a very serious problem in West Africa. One may easily understand the problem in conflict areas but it is also quite severe in many non-conflict rural areas and urban slums of West Africa.
This last chapter presents the results of expert prioritisation of policy recommendations that em... more This last chapter presents the results of expert prioritisation of policy recommendations that emerged from the ICCD programme. Experts gave the highest priority to developing an adequate early warning system with an efficient strategy to communicate with households and institutions. It is necessary for a better understanding of climate change and its effects and for the development of technologies adapted to location and sector specific conditions. In addition, high priority was given to maintaining social security mechanisms, understanding migration strategies and regulating land and water entitlements. Careful attention is needed for potential conflicts when resources become scarce. Local government and non-government organisations need support to monitor economic changes and to implement local policies. Agricultural research plays an important role in developing technologies that perform well under drought conditions. International agreements on climate change implications may be exploited for example by redefining subsidy practices. Finally there is plenty of scope for improving scientific research on climate change by extending research networks, by fine-tuning the ICCD models, and by expanding the geographic area of research.
The case study area of North-east Ghana consists of a densely populated zone in Upper East Region... more The case study area of North-east Ghana consists of a densely populated zone in Upper East Region and a less densely populated area in Northern Region. It was selected as an example of a rural area with sub-humid conditions, a relatively high average population density and relatively severe land degradation. A major part of the chapter describes the lack of consistency between rainfall data and crop yield data and tries to explain farmers’ behaviour as a constant adaptation to the rainfall situation, embedded in a volatile socio-economic environment. Farmers acknowledge climate change, and they, government institutions and non-governmental agencies have responded with more emphasis on water provision and land management improvements and with more emphasis on sector and geographical differentiation, including much more reliance on migration and remittance income.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) underscore an overriding importance of human development ... more The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) underscore an overriding importance of human development for sustained economic, social, political and other development, and nutrition is the beginning of human development. Nutrition has, however, not been viewed as a development imperative in many African countries. Agricultural and health policies, projects and programmes and the conduct of agricultural and health research in most African countries do not consider nutrition to any significant degree.
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