The White Volta Basin, Climate Change and Food Security： Perspectives of Riparian Communities in Northern Ghana
The White Volta Basin, Climate Change and Food Security： Perspectives of Riparian Communities in Northern Ghana作者机构：Department of Community Development University for Development Studies P.O. Box UPW 3 Wa Ghana Department of Planning and Management University for Development Studies P.O. Box UPW 3 Wa Ghana
出 版 物：《Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering(B)》 (环境科学与工程（B）)
年 卷 期：2013年第2卷第6期
页 面：350-356页
学科分类：082802[工学-农业水土工程] 07[理学] 070601[理学-气象学] 08[工学] 0828[工学-农业工程] 09[农学] 0815[工学-水利工程] 0903[农学-农业资源与环境] 0706[理学-大气科学]
主 题：Food security northern Ghana riparian communities White Volta.
摘 要：This paper has examined how the resources of the White Volta River are enhancing food availability for riparian communities in northern Ghana despite climate change and its associated effects on food security. Using participatory methods such as focus group discussions and interviews, data was collected from households and institutions in three riparian communities. The result of the study indicates that, all things been equal, cultivation of food crops along the river bank in the rainy season gives significantly high yields as compared to yields from farms farthest from the river under rain fed agriculture. Higher organic content and moisture retention capacity of river bank soils explains the yield differential and adaptability to climate change. In addition, farmers now irrigate cereal crops which were hitherto, reserved for only rainy season production. However, inappropriate irrigation practices are accelerating erosion and sedimentation of the river and thus, threaten the sustainability of agriculture and food security in the White Volta Basin. The paper therefore, recommends the adoption of IWRM （integrated water resources management） and the participation of local communities, Government and Civil Society organisations for sustaining the productive capacity of the White Volta Basin for enabling adaptation of agriculture to climate change in the riparian communities of the basin.
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