1. Deborah Ofori Research Scientist, Surface Water Division
Adaptive management of groundwater resources for small scale irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa (AMGRAF)
Deborah Ofori
Research Scientist, Surface Water Division
Mid-Year Review Seminar
WRI Conference Room,

2. Outline Project Information
Background/Introduction of AMGRAF Baseline Study
Methodology
Progress of Study
Way Forward

3. Project Information
Unlocking the Potential for Groundwater for the Poor (UPGro)
Aims: To enable developing countries in SSA to use groundwater in a sustainable way to benefit the poor

4. Project Information cont.
Research Issues
Where GW, how and at what rate is it recharged, and how can it be more effectively and efficiently abstracted to meet local needs?
What is the state of the resource – quantity & quality; how will it respond to abstraction, impact of growing population, climate change, etc.?
What governance arrangements are needed to support this access in an inclusive and sustainable way, and in particular to reach the poorest and most marginalised groups?

5. Project Information cont.
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC) & Department for International Development (DFID)-UK
7-year international research programme
- First Phase: Catalyst grant
- Second Phase: Implementation of Main Project

6. Project Information cont.
AMGRAF - Catalyst grant (12 months)
WRI (Ghana) & CSIR (South Africa) – Baseline Studies & Consortium building
Ethiopia – Pilot study
Implementing Partners
CSIR- Water Research Institute, International Water Management Institute (Ethiopia), Geological Survey, Ethiopia, CSIR (South Africa)

7. Project Information cont.
Aim: To enable sustainable development of accessible (shallow) groundwater for small-scale irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa
Concept: is that ‘accessibility’ is more important than aquifer potential
Working definition: Depth to groundwater should be less than 25 meters

9. AMGRAF Baseline Study Title
Assessment of Shallow Groundwater Irrigation in the Upper East Region of Ghana
Project Team
Dr Emmanuel Obuobie (RS)
Deborah Ofori (RS)
Dr Emmanuel Obeng-Bekoe (RS)
Project Duration
1 Year (2013 –2014)

10. Introduction Study area: Upper East Region (UER)
Land area: 8,842 km2 (4% of Ghana)
Slope: < 2%
Region is largely drained by the White and Red Volta rivers

11. Long-term mean rainfall, PET and temperature at Bolgatanga (UER)
Introduction cont.
Climate - UER
UER is located in the Sudan-savannah climate zone and can be described as semi-arid
Rainfall pattern is mono-modal with distinct wet (May-Sept/Oct) and dry (Nov-April)seasons
Rainfall is characterized by high temporal and spatial variability
Dry spells during rainy season
Mounting evidence of Climate variability and change
GW offers a more food secure alternative to rain-fed farming
Long-term mean rainfall, PET and temperature at Bolgatanga (UER)

12. Introduction cont. Demography & Socio-economic
Population in 2010 (GSS, 2012): 1,047,545 – 48 % males & 52% females
High population density (118 persons/km2)
Settlement is largely rural (84% rural, 16% urban) & large farming households (~ 6)
Predominant occupation is small scale farming (84 % of households)- GSS 2012
>80 % of population live below official poverty line (GHC 90 or US $34) – GSS 2012
About 80% of population depend on GW for water supply; GW for irrigation is limited

13. Introduction cont. Objectives
Understand the characteristics of shallow groundwater irrigation (SGI)
Assessment of groundwater (shallow) resources & characteristics
Understand groundwater governance structures and linkages at levels of management
Investigate socio-economic drivers for SGI

14. Methodology Review of WRI work on groundwater
Review of studies on shallow irrigation (IWMI work & other studies) & groundwater assessment
Stakeholder consultation (Institutions, farmers, MOFA, etc.)

15. Progress of Study Shallow groundwater Irrigation (SGI)
Resource Assessment

16. Shallow groundwater Irrigation
Major uses of groundwater in the UER
SGI is categorized as informal irrigation, mainly during dry season
low-lying areas such as flood plains, alluvial channels and valley bottoms where the water table is high
Manually tapped using simple tools & indigenous knowledge
Hand-dug wells usually less than 10 m deep

17. Shallow groundwater Irrigation cont.
Water is lifted & distributed using : rope and bucket/ container, &motorized pumps
Many farmers have 2 or more wells
Farm sizes ranges between ha
Major Crops: tomatoes, onions, pepper, leafy vegetables
Farmers usually do not own the land; have some arrangements with landowners that allow them to cultivate

18. Progress of Study cont. Resource Assessment
2 main geological formations: Precambrian crystalline rocks & Paleozoic sedimentary consolidated rocks

19. Resource Assessment cont.
Aquifer zones & types
3 main Aquifer zones: weathered zone, bedrock-weathered zone interface, fractured zone
Schematic representation of the hydrogeological profile in the Precambrian crystalline rock in the Upper East region (Obuobie et al., 2013)

20. Resource Assessment cont.
Borehole characteristics
Based on data from 2,458 successful boreholes
Summary of borehole information in the Upper East Region (Agyekum et al., 2008)
District map of the Upper East Region (2008 map)

21. Resource Assessment cont.
Groundwater Recharge
Recharge is mainly through precipitation (direct & indirect)
Contribution from regional aquifers is insignificant
Groundwater recharge for specific locations in Ghana (Obuobie and Barry, 2012)

22. Resource Assessment cont.
Simulations by Models
Obuobie & Ofori (2013):
Huge potential for groundwater use in the Basin including
the UER
Groundwater development potential map of northern Ghana (source: Forkuor et al., 2013)
Map of groundwater potential zones of Ghana (source: Gumma and Pavelic, 2012)

23. Resource Assessment cont.
Groundwater quality
Based on analysis of water samples from 214 boreholes
Summary of groundwater quality in the Upper East Region ( Amuzu, 1974 cited in Agyekum et al., 2008)

24. Socio-economic & Governance
Stakeholder consultation is underway

25. Way Forward Complete the stakeholder consultation process
Understand the socio-economic drivers for shallow ground irrigation
Identify key issues, challenges & opportunities for GW resources & SGI
Identify knowledge and data gaps in groundwater resource assessment, etc.
Identify knowledge gap in groundwater governance

26. Thank You