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The Experience of Irrigation Management Transfer in Ghana: A Case Study of Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme

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Irrigation and Drainage Systems

Abstract

Government disengagement from day-to-daymanagement of irrigation infrastructure hasbecome a widespread strategy in Asia,Africa and Latin America. This paperexamines a case study of managementtransfer of a rice irrigation scheme inGhana. The criteria used relate toagricultural, financial and economicperformance and environmental sustainability.The study showed that whilstboth cropping intensity and cultivated areadecreased after transfer, the relativelyhigh yields were sustained. The averageproduction cost before transfer decreasedby about 7% from $827/ha to $774/haafter transfer. Most importantly, averagenet income increased by more than 100%from $260/ha to $549/ha after transfer.Very high financial self-sufficiency ratioscoupled with low running cost achieved bythe farmers' co-operative led to theconclusion that transfer has resulted inbetter performance so far.

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Sam-Amoah, L., Gowing, J. The Experience of Irrigation Management Transfer in Ghana: A Case Study of Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme. Irrigation and Drainage Systems 15, 21–38 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017550914360

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017550914360

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