FARMERS COMPARATIVE USE ASSESSMENT OF WIND AND ELECTRIC PUMP FOR IRRIGATION

Kutsanedzie Felix, Diaba Kwasi Selassie

Abstract: Keta District provides one of the best wind regimes in Ghana and farming is the main occupation of most people in the communities of the district, notably the anloga community.A small size wind pump (1.6m rotor diameter) is currently in operation in Anloga in the Keta District on pilot bases to verify its cost effectiveness compared with the hydro electric power technology. The high electricity tariff paid every month for power consumption deterred majority of the farmers using hydro electricity technology for pumping. A survey conducted revealed that out of about 50 farmers, only 29% engaged in the use of electric power for pumping whilst 69% are still practising the manual method. 2% of the farmers are practising wind energy technology on pilot bases. Farmers in these coastal communities may have engaged in the use of wind energy for water pumping but for its high initial cost.

Keywords: wind, irrigation, electric, rural, development

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2015.0406093