Irrigated agriculture: a tool for green revolution in Ghana

Abstract

Policy-makers, technical and development experts have provided numerous reasons for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries to adapt and replicate the lessons of Asia's Green Revolution (AGR) which is regarded to be an effective model for increasing agricultural productivity, reducing poverty and enhancing food and nutrition security. However, for SSA to successfully replicate AGR requires a firm grasp of the specific conditions under which it was implemented during the 1960s and 1970s. The changing environment, climate change impacts and erratic rainfall patterns are making the predominant rain-fed agriculture in SSA countries like Ghana unproductive and unsustainable. Consequently, widespread poverty, food and nutrition insecurity are endemic in most rural communities in the country. The views of eight development experts and 45 farmers were analysed and the key drivers that can facilitate a successful replication of Asia's experiences identified and analysed. A number of recommendations are then proposed to ensure a successful deployment of AGR to boost agricultural productivity, wealth creation, and food and nutrition security in Ghana.