EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE ON MALARIA AND ITS VECTOR ABUNDANCE:

Title: EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION INFRASTRUCTURE ON MALARIA AND ITS VECTOR ABUNDANCE:

A CASE STUDY OF THE UPPER EAST REGION-GHANA

Authors: Prof. Mrs. Esi Awua, Mr. F.O. Annor, Mr. E.Ofosu

ABSTRACT

According to the FAO (2005), Ghana has a potential irrigable area of over 1.9 million hectares. Of this potential only about 11000 ha have been developed since formal irrigation started in the early 1960s. Despite, the provision of over 200 small scale dams and various mechanisms calculated toward poverty alleviation, the Upper East Region of Ghana is still plagued with poverty and perennial food deficit. There are genuine “cries” for more irrigation water in most farming communities especially in the dry season, hence the need for more dams to be built.

It is therefore to be expected that investments in reservoir projects and their possible impact on vector population will increase substantially in the near future. However, should this happen, there is a great need for an assessment of the possible effects (if any) of these reservoir on malaria and its vector abundance disease vector in the sub-Sahara Africa

In the seven (7) administrative zones of the Bongo District of the Upper East Region of Ghana the occurrences of malaria and relative abundance of the principal malaria vector, Anopheles species, were studied as a function of the presence and characteristics of reservoirs during the rainy season. Case studies in the sub-Sahara Africa show that malaria transmission may increase, decrease or remain largely unchanged as a consequence of reservoir presence. There was a weak negative correlation between distance from reservoir to settlement and adult anopheles abundance. Also there was no correlation between surface area of reservoirs and adult Anopheles mosquito abundance. Percentage of inhabitants using insecticide treated nets, livestock population density, human population density and Anopheles mosquito abundance moderately  affected the occurrence of malaria. The results suggest that vector control targeted at reservoir characteristics and larval control and supplemented by high patronage of insecticide treated nets may be an effective approach for epidemic malaria control in the Bongo District.

KEY WORDS: Bongo District, Reservoir, Anopheles species, Malaria, Vector abundance, niches , Canals, laterals, Insecticide Treated Nets, population density.

Shifting Trends in Rural Livelihood-A CASE STUDY OF ASUTIFI DISTRICT-GHANA

Shifting Trends in Rural Livelihood

A CASE STUDY OF ASUTIFI DISTRICT-GHANA

August 2006

Authors:

Amma Birago Safo-Kantanka

Ebenezer Attah

Enoch Ofosu

Jeroen Nagel

Mary Anne Akuto

Maurice van Beurden

Pearl Boadiwaa Krah

Richard Ahiagble

ABSTRACT

The concept of livelihood is of utmost importance to all development partners particularly the Department for International Development (DFID). A livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets and activities required for a means of living. It is much more than a job as it covers a whole range of things people do to make a living.

People employ a diversity of means to help meet basic needs: food crop production; cash crop production; forest and tree product gathering, consumption, processing and sale; and income earning enterprises both on and off the farm at different times and places. Due to the dynamisms in society, people shift from one livelihood activity to the other in order to make a living and this creates the problem of livelihood insecurity.  Questions that come to mind as people shift from one livelihood activity to the other include:

·         What are the characteristics of the assets which people draw their livelihood from?

• What are the livelihood activities available to people?
• How effective is the role of stakeholders in ensuring livelihood security for people?

In line with the above questions, a study was conducted in the Asutifi District in the Brong-Ahafo Region to analyse the livelihood trends of the people in the context of sustainable development. The specific objectives of the study included: To identify the characteristics of the assets from which people draw their livelihoods, to identify the livelihood activities and their contributions to household needs and to determine the effectiveness of the roles of the stakeholders in ensuring livelihood security for the people.

The study adopted a participatory approach by involving community members (as household respondents) and other stakeholders (the District Assembly, traditional leaders, Unit Committees and other non-governmental organizations as key informants) to achieve the research objectives. Data sources included both primary and secondary data. The primary data was collected through questionnaire administration, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and non-participant observation. The primary data was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively in line with the specific research objectives.  The secondary sources consisted of a desk study of books, journals, and the internet to extract information and statistics on livelihood related topics including the concept of sustainable livelihood, livelihood assets, rural livelihood and livelihood diversification.

The research revealed that people in the four communities visited still depend on natural capital (mainly farm lands) as their major livelihood asset from which they draw their livelihood.  The major economic activity that people engage in as a means of living is agriculture (mainly crop farming) as indicated by 50 percent of the respondents. The study further revealed that there has been a shift in the livelihood activities of the people as admitted by 41 percent of the respondents. The major cause of the shift in livelihood activity of the people is the presence of the Newmont Mining Company in the study district. Other causes of the shift include land administration problems and low income. 

In line with the research findings, it is recommended that farmers should be trained in improved farming technology in order to improve their production level.  This recommendation is made based on the fact that Newmont Mining Company has taken about 7500 hectares of farm lands and farmers can now hardly practice shifting cultivation which they had hither to practiced. It is also recommended that the youth should be equipped with employable skills to improve their chances of getting employment aside farming. It is again recommended that the activities of Newmont Mining Company should be well monitored to promote livelihood security for the people.