1. Shallow Groundwater
utilization in the Volta Basin
Inception Workshop
15 June 2012
Bolgatanga

2. Work Package 1a: Examine existing
irrigation methods
 This effort will examine performance of the current irrigation practices and where
applicable test and recommend less labour intensive and technically feasible yet
affordable shallow groundwater irrigation alternatives that can be utilized in other
White Volta Basin areas.
 The Phase 1 project conducted technical identification of potential areas with
shallow groundwater and developed a groundwater map and noted that only 5%
of the water is abstracted. The proposed study intends to use some of these
research insights for exploration of feasible methods that abstract deeper water
reserves with less labour requirement for smallholder farmer utilization.

3. Existing Technologies

4. Work Package 1b: Evaluate
alternative technologies
 The main thrust of this work package is to:
 Explore improved utilization of groundwater irrigation under different
conditions within the previous catchment sites of the PN 65 project
 Identify other applicable shallow groundwater exploitation areas within
the White Volta Basin based on maps and findings of the previous
project.

5. POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGIES

6. WELL TECHNOLOGIES

7. Relevant Research Questions
 What is the ease of use, efficiency and feasibility of a given technology for
current farming practices? (Relates to Work package 2)
 What are the estimates for recharge potential in areas where extraction is
currently conducted? What are the contributions of direct and indirect
recharges on the overall volume of shallow groundwater?
 What is the energy consumption and labour demand estimates associated
with the existing irrigation methods? (Also relates to Work packages 2 and 3)

8. Research Activities
 Assess current performance (water yield and use efficiency) of shallow
groundwater use methods, identify gaps and recommend feasible
alternative methods.
 Identify potential interventions that address sub-optimal water
resource abstraction.
 Evaluate sustainability of groundwater resources utilization through
periodic water level monitoring
 Conduct feasibility assessments of alternative energy sources such as
solar, wind, fuel and combination approaches of irrigation methods
within the existing shallow groundwater utilization practices.

9. Questions
Thanks for your attention!
Questions?