Mapping Irrigation Potential in a Semi-Arid Region in West Africa

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents results of mapping out the irrigation potential of the sahelian region of Ghana. The irrigation potentials of four watersheds drained by the White Volta, Red Volta, Sissili and Kulpawn rivers were assessed. The irrigation potential for the sub watersheds in the region were computed by combining information on gross irrigation water requirements, area of soil suitable for irrigation and available water resources. The capacity of 80%, 70%, 60% and 50% time of exceedance flow of the available surface water resources in the respective sub watersheds were estimated. The areas that can be irrigated with these flows were computed with selected cropping pattern. Combining the land suitability map and the land use map of the respective sub watersheds, an irrigation potential map was generated showing potential sites in the Upper East Region that can be brought under surface irrigation in the respective sub watersheds. The total area that could be irrigated using the flow at 80% and 50% dependability are over 1000ha and 20000ha respectively