The State of Irrigation Infrastructure in Ghana: The Way Forward

The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) is a public sector organization established to promote agricultural growth through the provision of irrigation infrastructure and other agricultural water management techniques. Irrigated agriculture in Ghana is categorized into formal, informal or smallholder and large-scale commercial irrigation. Over the years, irrigation development in the country has been faced with a number of challenges, which necessitated the development of the National Irrigation Policy, Strategies and Regulatory Measures and the Ghana Agricultural Water Management Pre-Investment Reform Action Framework. A number of factors affecting irrigation development in the country include lack of capital, commitment by successive governments, cost of energy, access to land and credit, lack of technical know-how and encroachment, among others. Analysis of budget provided by government for public irrigation development was carried out using simple linear regression. Results indicate a bright prospect of irrigation development, with reforms under implementation. A minimum of GHS 633.43 million is required for release into the sub-sector by government together with investments from private sector in the next ten years to shift the balance towards positive growth. To solve the problem of inadequate funding of the sub-sector activities, it is recommended that the GIDA collaborates with Development Partners to fund projects and activities in line with their objectives. GIDA should develop effective programmes for building capacity of contractors involved in development of infrastructure. GIDA should deepen its collaboration with private investors under PPPs and convert electric and diesel/petrol powered irrigation pumps to solar powered ones.