Small Scale Irrigation A case of Ghana

1. Small Scale IrrigationA case of Ghana Presented by: Patricia Dankha Planet Action International E: Patricia.Dankha@spotimage.fr

2. LOGO Projects Coordinators • Amos T. Kabo-bah, PROJECTS COORDINATOR, Green WaterHut, Ghana • Email: kabo-bah@greenwaterhut.org • Tel: + 86 13404140016 • Raymond Aabeyir, LEAD REPRESENTATIVE, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DER), University for Development Studies (UDS), Wa Campus, Ghana • Email: raypacka@yahoo.com • Tel: +233 207087787 • Facilitators, Students of DER, UDS, Ghana. • Local Stakeholders, Communities – Kokoligu, Vea and Karni

3. LOGO Contents 1. Introduction 2. Strategy - PPGIS 3. Results – Project Cases 4. General Observations 5. Setbacks & Way Forward

4. Introduction • It is noted that, only 0.4% of all of the water on earth is usable and accessible to human (CAP-Net 2003) and clearly shows the need for proper management of the water resources. • IWRM principles emphasize on participation of stakeholders in water resources management as the most sustainable way to manage the resource. • Though GIS is an important tool for natural resources management, it has remained very technical for the ordinary stakeholders.

5. LOGO Some Questions…? GIS and RS technology has been used among professionals for a long time but … • How can GIS & RS be downscaled for local action? • How can GIS & RS be downscaled for local involvement? • How can GIS & RS be downscaled for sustainable livelihood impact? • More importantly, how could GIS & RS be used to support decisions in SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION?

6. LOGO Possible Answer! Adoption of Public Participatory GIS – PPGIS was the most probable option

7. What is PPGIS? (1/2) • PPGIS uses a non-technical language to communicate the meaning, the significance and the use of GIS for managing natural resources (Kabo-bah and Lis, 2011). • PPGIS involves learning, managing, analysing and communicating spatial information to both the less and far advanced users of GIS (Rambaldi et al., 2006). • The essence of PPGIS is to bring the skills and knowledge of GIS to the ordinary stakeholders in water resource management.

8. What is PPGIS (2/2) Finally… • PPGIS means technocrats and communities working hand in hand to understand the prevailing natural and environmental conditions using GIS & RS technology

9. Project Coordination & Support INT. COORDINATOR Planet Action International • SUPPORT MATERIALS • SPOT January 2011 • Landsat February 2011 • Hand-held GPS receiver, • Erdas Imagine 9.2, • ArcMap 10 • Reading Materials – BOOKS • [Supplied Planet Action International] COUNTRY COORDINATOR Green WaterHut, Ghana LEAD REPRESENTATIVE DER, UDS FACILITATORS Students of DER, UDS LOCAL COMMUNITIES

10. Project Sites

11. Fieldwork & Procedure • METHODS • Students who were to be facilitated in the field underwent some training in GIS and RS techniques • Students including Lead Representative conducts Community Entry for each of the project sites • Resource Mapping conducted by students and the communities • Students report their findings in the form of thesis write up. • Learn lessons are documented therefrom. LOGO

12. Community Entry • Community entry was undertaken in July 2011 in each of the project sites to brief the opinion leaders of the two communities on the: • intended study and its purpose, benefits to the community and also to introduce the students to benefits of the PPGIS in natural resources Source: During Fieldwork

13. Resource Mapping (1/2) • The purpose of the fieldwork was to characterise the extent of the reservoir and activities around the reservoir in each community. • The community members were involved in the collection of GPS points of specific features of the reservoir. • Five community members comprising a representative of the chief, two management committee members, the assembly member, and an ordinary user of the reservoir

14. Resource Mapping (2/2) • They picked the GPS coordinates of the: • boundary of the reservoir as pointed out by the community members, • spatial coverage of the water in the reservoir • gardens and farms around the reservoir

15. Kokoligu Case (1/2) 100m buffer zone Farms

16. Kokoligu Case • Some gardens were situated in the dry areas of the reservoir. • Farming around the reservoir and upstream are catalysts for siltation of the reservoir. • Siltation makes the reservoir shallow and unable to collect sufficient water in the rainy season LOGO

17. The Vea Case (1/2) • The major effects of climate variability they currently faced were reduction in the water in the reservoir, and wilting of crops. • Reduction in the water level is the main effect of climate variability on irrigation confronting their farming activities. • Crop wilting as a result of intense sunshine is another effect of climate variability on their irrigation farming

18. The Vea Case (2/2) GIS extracted map of the Vea Irrigation facility

19. The Karni Case • It was realized that some human induced actions either reduces the dam size or directly cause loss of water from the dam. • Farming very close to the dam is one of the main causes of the dam’s siltation. • Situations causing people to farm around the dam area were identified as; the area is suitable for farming since most parts of the community area stony. LOGO

20. The Karni Case (2/2) GIS map of Karni irrigation facility LOGO

21. General Observations • Through PPGIS, the community members visualised the reduction in the spatial overage of the water in the reservoirs. • The characteristics of the land cover around these irrigation facilities gave vital information for informing community members the need to put in some measures such as planting of trees. • The adoption of PPGIS can recoup faster understanding and use of GIS & RS technology

22. On-Going Research (2012-2014) • The next phase of the research is focused on mapping the land cover/use and water storage variability in the reserviours of Karni, Vea and Kokoligu. • Also, some of the northern municipalities of ghana, have plans to draw water from important rivers such as the Black River Volta for treatment and supply to the Municipalities and its immediate environs. • In view of this, this study would be extended to cover 6 additional communities to understand the landuse change and further recommend ways to managing and protecting the river courses from adverse pollution.

23. On-Going Research (2012-2014) • Since the woodland cover plays an important role in the conservation of water bodies, and the fact that the region is facing declining woodland cover, it is imperative to study the woodland cover around the Black Volta. • Eight Communities along the river have been selected for the study • Four groups of students from the Department of Environment and Resource Studies of UDS-Wa Campus will be guided to undertake the research in these community together with the communities members.

24. Key Goals (2012-2014) • The following are the KEY targeted goals: • enhance local knowledge of managing natural resources by incorporating PPGIS and Remote Sensing Methods • Encourage and empower local communities with the urge to understand, strategies and implement indigenous ways at handling climate change fluxes at the local level • enrich the students in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with PPGIS and Remote Sensing techniques to enable them participate in natural resources management issues effectively in the Northern Ghana and the country as a whole. • inform stakeholders in integrated water resources management, the need to uphold the principles of PPGIS for sustainable water use, environmental management and development. • Inform local communities and stakeholders about the role of Planet Action towards climate change mitigation and adaptation.

25. Setbacks & Way forward • The undergoing research which intended to finish by 2014 is heavily impeded by financial constraints. This is because supporting organisations only provide logistics such as books and satellite imagery. • For long-term benefits for the local communities, the research needs more collaborative efforts with other organizations. Therefore, we would welcome suggestions or comments that can lead to more collaborative support and cooperation in this research.

26. So, join us in the FIGHT! Against the world’s no. 1 problem – Climate Change & variability By writing to us…. Amos T. Kabo-bah, Email: kabo-bah@greenwaterhut.org Tel: + 86 134 0414 0016 Raymond Aabeyir, Email: raypacka@yahoo.com Tel: +233 20 708 7787

27. Thank you! Green WaterHut, Ghana Department of Environmental & Natural Resources, UDS, Ghana Nature Today, Ghana