Siltation Of Small-Scale Irrigation Dams and Its Effects on The Livelihoods of Small Holder Irrigation Farmers in Upper West Region, Ghana

Abstract

Siltation in reservoirs of small-scale irrigation dams is becoming a serious problem that is gradually jeopardizing the goals for which these facilities were built. However, information on this critical phenomenon on irrigation dams in Ghana's Upper West Region is scarce, hence the need for this study. The study used a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches to assess reservoir siltation on selected irrigation dams in Ghana's Upper West Region, two each in Wa West District and Wa Municipality. The quantitative study used simple equipment to measure the depth of silt accumulations in the study dams. In addition, a survey of (100 respondents) and interviews (6 participants) were conducted with patrons to assess their understanding of the causes of siltation and how siltation affects their food production and income. The descriptive component of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 20) was used to analyse qualitative survey results at a 95% confidence level, while thematic analysis was used to analyse quantitative data. The results showed that due to siltation, the four reservoirs lost a total volume of 1,118, 105.444 cubic meters (cu.m3) of water. The main causes of siltation were discovered to be a combination of human and natural activities within reservoir catchments. The effects of siltation on these small-holder irrigation farmers' production, such as vegetable production, fishing, and animal rearing, were largely negative. But this was said to have decreased compared to when the dams were first built without the siltation effect. Thus, dam siltation was said to have had a significant impact on smallholder irrigation farmers' operating costs. However, no adequate mitigation strategies were implemented by smallholder irrigation farmers and stakeholders to address the impact of dam siltation on their activities. Findings reveal, the impact of siltation is enormous and necessitates extensive intervention by the government and other bodies or agencies. The study suggests stakeholder collaboration and an integrated approach to addressing dam siltation in the Region.