Assessment of water availability for agricultural activities in the savannah Plateau of Adamawa-Cameroon.

Abstract

The availability of water for agricultural use in the savannah plateau of Adamawa, Cameroon, is addressed in this paper. Specific field tests coupled with climatic data analysis have helped to characterize the hydrological and hydrogeological conditions of water resources in a small catchment. An agricultural suitability map, based on the water availability during the dry season, is produced. Measured saturated hydraulic conductivities indicated an acceptable disposition of the soils for agriculture. The transmissivity values indicated moderate groundwater potential with mean annual recharge of 96mm. The agricultural suitability map shows that only 8.8% of the basin area is very favorable for agriculture and that 51% of the basin is not suitable for agriculture, due to water scarcity during the dry season. Due to the considerable depth to the water table, pumping for irrigation purposes is not affordable for the local low-income farmers. Therefore, there is a need to implement adapted solutions for irrigation to support farmers' endeavors, such as the development of water retention basins or the construction of boreholes equipped with electric pumps supplied by solar energy for irrigation.