Sustainable Irrigation Water Management Practices and Their Effects on Farm-Level Water Use Efficiency in Northern Ghana

Abstract This study examined sustainable irrigation water management practices and their effects on farm-level irrigation water-use efficiency in the Tono Irrigation Scheme of Northern Ghana. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining a cross-sectional survey of 300 randomly selected irrigation farmers with key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, stochastic frontier analysis, and Tobit regression, while qualitative data were analysed through verbatim narratives. The results revealed that erratic rainfall (Mean = 4.07), labour unavailability and high labour costs (Mean = 4.13), poor market access (Mean = 4.76), and lack of institutional support (Mean = 4.80) were the most critical production constraints. The mean irrigation water-use efficiency was 42.23%, with values ranging from 0.67% to 85.24%; 42.3% of farmers operated below 40% efficiency, while only 2.0% exceeded 80%. Stochastic frontier estimates indicated that farm size, seed quantity, labour, fertilizer application, and irrigation water significantly influenced rice output. Tobit results showed that conservation agriculture, bunding, integrated pest management, drought-resistant crop varieties, membership in farmer-based organizations, and extension services significantly improved water-use efficiency, whereas excessive water application reduced it. The study concludes that strengthening extension services, promoting climate-smart irrigation technologies, improving market access, and scaling up sustainable water management practices are essential for enhancing water productivity and ensuring the sustainability of irrigated agriculture under increasing climate variability.