Wind-powered irrigation in Ghana: A review

Access to energy is critical for promoting economic growth and alleviating poverty. Cost-effective and dependable energy services are essential for modernising agriculture, expanding trade, saving lives, growing industries and empowering women. Renewable energy resources, which include wind, are employed worldwide to augment energy needs. Apart from generating electricity, it has also been harnessed for pumping water, milling grains, and irrigation in agriculture. Farming remains one of the significant economic activities in Ghana, and for farmers to stay in business all year, they must irrigate their farmlands. Through its Irrigation Development Authority, the Government of Ghana promotes irrigation among farmers. Irrigation in Ghana is mainly done by fossil fuel-operated pumps or manual labour, with little or no irrigation powered by renewable sources. Though the Ministry of Energy and Food and Agriculture promoted the Poldaw Windpump for irrigation and communal water supply in 2004, wind-powered irrigation is non-existent in Ghana. This paper reviews wind irrigation development in Ghana. It highlights the piloting of the Poldaw Windpump in Ghana and the present situation in the country.