Local Knowledge and Innovations in Farmer-Driven Irrigation Systems in the Kassena Nankana West District, Ghana

Abstract

Rainfall patterns in northern Ghana over the years depict a continuous contraction of the length of the rainy season. Furthermore, regional climate forecasts project this trend to become more pronounced, and climatic patterns more unpredictable and more erratic than they were previously. Thus, it is increasingly difficult to sustain agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions without irrigation development. Thus, irrigation development has been considered as a panacea to addressing climate risks to agriculture. However, attempts to develop formal irrigation systems have largely focused on exploring technologies and innovations for improving formal irrigation systems to the neglect of smallholder Farmer-Driven Irrigation Systems (FDIS). Consequently, most researchers have not taken keen interest in examining the role of local knowledge systems of innovations among smallholder farmer-driven irrigation farmers. Therefore, this study sought to assess local knowledge systems of innovations for sustaining FDIS in the Kassena Nankana West District of Ghana. The study adopted an exploratory sequential mixed methods design, targeting farmer-driven irrigators and applying key informant interviews (11) and focus group discussions (5) for qualitative data collection and analysis. These were complemented with a survey involving 226 smallholder irrigators and data collected from them using face-to-face interviews. The results revealed that smallholder farmers apply local knowledge for innovating in FDIS. These innovations are multiple and include the application of ash and salt in furrows for controlling pest and disease infestation, adoption of multiple water sources, and the use of shallow wells as source of water for motorized pump irrigation are some of the innovations adopted to improve farmers’ access to water for irrigation. Others include combining mixed-cropping with staggered planting schemes, strategic personal savings, the use of village savings and loan associations, and the sale of livestock/food for financing irrigation, as well as networking and building relationships with traders to improve marketing. Thus, local knowledge as applied by smallholder farmers reflects a blend of indigenous agricultural knowledge and modern scientific technologies in production - in ways that are practical and affordable to the farmers. The results also reveal that socio-demographic factors such as age, educational status and community of residence as well as economic factors such as income level of farmers are critical enabling factors that influence the adoption of innovations. Further, other factors such as the number of years a piece of land has been put to irrigation is an important environmental factor that greatly influences the adoption of innovations in FDIS. Further, the results revealed that, the adoption of innovations contributes greatly to improving soil fertility, enhances water access and improves management of pest and diseases, but also increases profitability and improves household food security. In the context of global environmental change, an Endogenous Development approach to agricultural extension, combining external inventions with local knowledge and innovations, is recommended as essential for promoting sustainable FDIS in northeastern Ghana.