Strategic Innovations in Dryland Farming 

Project Duration:  2004-2009

Geographical Focus: Ghana

Many households in Northern Ghana depend directly on rainwater for domestic and farming purposes. Although there are records up to 1000mm of rainfall, most communities lack appropriate reservoirs that could store rainwater for domestic use over the seven months dry season. Communities with water reservoirs or who practice runoff farming are economically productive  and livelihoods are enhanced during the dry season. This component of CP6 seeks to reduce drudgery and time spent by women and children in fetching water for domestic uses while at the same time providing opportunities for dry season crop production as well as other productive enterprises, using harvested roof and runoff water.

Goal 

The overall goal is to ensure sustainable utilization of rainwater for household food security, poverty reduction and environmental integrity in dry areas.

Specific Objectives - Research activities include:

• Roof water harvesting for productive purposes beyond domestic needs including cost and benefits of supplying increased quantity of water for mixed use.
• Monitoring quality of harvested water as a function of user behavior and environmental conditions as well as the link between rainwater harvesting and prevalence of disease vectors
• On-farm participatory research to test the effectiveness and acceptability of selected runoff harvesting techniques that could improve water capture and water utilization efficiency.
• Assessment of water balance and productivity levels vis-à-vis soil fertility management in an attempt to better understand irrigation water-soil nutrient interaction and how to harness this for improved smallholder productivity in water scarce areas

Partners 

SARI (Savanna Agricultural Research Institute), IWMI (International Water Management Institute), WRI (Water Research Institute), ICRISAT (International Crop Research Institute for the semi-Arid Tropics) and ISSER (Institute of  Statistical Social and Economic Research)

Donors

Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) by Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR).