Environmental Consequences and Profitability Analysis of Dry Season Small Scale Irrigation Farming in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region, Ghana

ABSTRACT 

This study assessed dry season farming profitability and examines farming practices and their influence on the environment. Dry season farming practices identified from the literature were irrigation practices, land preparation, tillage practices and use of agrochemicals. A cross sectional design was adopted as quantitative data was collected from respondents. Five (5) communities along the White Volta River in the Bawku West District were purposively selected based on their proximity to the river and the farming intensity. Processing and analysis of quantitative data was carried out using SPSS and STATA respectively. Descriptive statistics used include frequencies, means and tables and logit regression model. These were used to determine the factors that influence farmers choice for producing a crop respectively. Gross margin analysis and other profitability analysis were used to estimate the economic returns from dry season and wet season farming. The major crops produced are onion (40%), leafy vegetables (9%), okro (20%), pepper (13%) and fruit crop watermelon (18%). The main farming practices identified were hoeing, chemical weeding, burning, preparing of sunken beds, designing ridges/earth bunds; which were a form of land preparation. The flood irrigation system was the mode of irrigation practiced and it is self-managed by farmers. The study shows dry season farmers barely get extension services. 

Environmental consequences identified were; destruction of vegetation, stunting of vegetation, land degradation, gulley erosion, siltation of the river and proliferation of weeds. The environment of the area is being impacted significantly due to the continual dry season farming activities and this is increased by the arid nature of the area. There is the need to compare returns from dry and wet season farming. The economic analysis of dry season onion production and wet season maize production estimates revealed that the gross margin for onion production is GH¢ 2035.7644 with a Net Farm Income (NFI) of GH¢ 1696.8144. The variable cost was GH¢ 1574.46 and an amount of GH¢ 338.95 fixed inputs per one acre and a total revenue of GH¢3610.2244. The benefit and cost ratio (BCR) of dry season onion production was 1.8 while GPR is 0.563 equivalent to 56.3%. The benefit-cost ratio was greater than 1 implying, farmers break even and make profit while the gross profit ratio indicates that, farmers are able to sell the produce at a high profit price. Similarly, wet season maize estimated a variable cost of GH¢ 567.80 and an amount of GH¢ 109.96 fixed inputs per one acre and a total revenue of GH¢ 957.98.  The gross margin was GH¢ 390.17 while the Net Farm Income (NFI) was GH¢ 280. 21. The BCR of maize was1.4, which is greater than one, indicating farmers break-even; while the gross profit ratio was 0.473(40.73%) showing that farmers make profit in the wet season just like the dry season onion production.

In conclusion the profitability analysis of dry season onion production is very efficient because farmers invest more; in terms of time, labour, cost of inputs such as fertilizer and irrigation which reflects on the returns made on production. Wet season maize production is also profitable.