Title: Irrigated agriculture: a tool for green revolution in Ghana?

Authors: Emmanuel K. Boon; Richard Oppong-Boateng; Ama Appiah-Acheampong; Naomi Buabemaa Gyekye

Addresses: International Centre for Enterprise and Sustainable Development (ICED), P.O. Box KA 16461, Airport, Accra, Ghana ' Irrigation Technology and Innovation Development (ITID), Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), P.O. Box M.154, Ministries, Accra, Ghana ' Department of Planning and Coordination, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), P.O. Box M.154, Ministries, Accra, Ghana ' Department of Planning and Coordination, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), P.O. Box M.154, Ministries, Accra, 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.

Keywords: agriculture; climate change; food security; green revolution; hunger; irrigation; nutrition; productivity; Ghana.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2020.114862

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2020 Vol.19 No.1/2/3, pp.1 - 25

Received: 04 Oct 2019
Accepted: 04 May 2020
Published online: 10 May 2021 *

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