Assessment of Potential of Groundwater Yield for Domestic and Dry Season Irrigation in North-East Region of Ghana

-

Abstract

This paper investigated the potential of groundwater yield for domestic and dry-season vegetable irrigation in East Mamprugu, West Mamprugu, Muagduri, Nakpanduri-Bunkpurgu, Yunyoo and Cheriponi districts of the North-East Region of Ghana. In this study, a simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents for the questionnaires. The cluster sampling method was used to select four communities from each district.  A sample size of 480 households from twenty-four communities was used for the study. Groundwater yield test was carried out on all the water facilities (Boreholes and Hand-dug wells) in each of the studied communities in the six districts of the region. It compared the total domestic water demand per day (m³) with that of the total available yield of groundwater facilities per day (m³). Results indicated that groundwater demand for all domestic purposes is low compared to available groundwater yield in most of the communities in the region. There was surplus groundwater available over a dry period of six (6) months with Kulguduri in East Mamprugu district having the highest surplus groundwater. This could be used for dry-season vegetable irrigation. The study also revealed that by using the combined water availability-demand measure some communities out of the twenty (24) studied communities in the districts of the region would become vulnerable to water stress by 2050. The potential of groundwater for dry season irrigation can be expanded if more of the broken boreholes in the study areas are repaired.