Story by Doreen Ampofo
Smallholder farmers in communities severely affected by climate change are to benefit from a new solar irrigation platform developed by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), and its partners.
Known as IRRILINE, the platform will provide irrigation guidance, targeted support to women farmers, and linkage to private-sector suppliers.
Climate change, with erratic rainfall and rising temperatures, poses a challenge to Ghanaian smallholder farmers, creating water scarcity, reduced yields, and food insecurity. While irrigation is a major solution, it remains underdeveloped. Less than 3% of Ghana’s cultivated land is irrigated, despite significant potential. This is due to high costs, poor infrastructure, and lack of investment in adaptation over mitigation, forcing farmers to rely on costly, often inadequate, water sources or adopt difficult coping mechanisms like migration.
IRRILINE will provide irrigation information and support service that helps farmers to determine when and how much to irrigate, reduce water and energy waste; adopt and operate solar irrigation systems more effectively, connect with trusted suppliers and receive complementary support through Farmerline’s digital extension systems.
Experts believe smallholder farmers who access the platform can increase their yields by up to four times.
Speaking at the launch of the Country representative of IWMI, Prof Kehinde Ogunjobi while emphasizing the importance of collaboration in developing IRRILINE, hoped the tool/platform will be replicated in other African countries to help smallholder farmers become climate resilient.
“This tool is not just for Ghana; it can be scaled across the region. It combines technology, renewable energy, and farmer-led solutions to strengthen food security,” he noted.
He urged Ghanaian farmers to embrace technology-driven irrigation methods to enhance food security.
IWMI’s Africa Director for Research Impact, Dr. Olufunke Cofie, said the initiative reflected IWMI’s commitment to sustainable water management and food security.
“We develop tools and solutions that help farmers and decision-makers use water more effectively, responding to climate change and supporting livelihoods,” she stated.
The project lead and Deputy Country Representative and Senior Researcher at IWMI, Dr Sander Zwart who explained the IRRILINE concept said with right investment in irrigation, farmers can quadruple their yields. He indicated that the service was co-designed with Farmerline to address farmers’ biggest challenge access to reliable irrigation
“Irrigation is location-specific and often costly. IRRILINE brings together advisory services, equipment providers, and financing options in one platform,” he said.
The platform was co-developed with Farmerline, an agric-solutions developer whose aim is to increase access to farmers and simplify transactions throughout the agricultural value chain. Senior Business and Account Manager – Farmerline, Marvin Nii Adom Armah, who explained how farmers can access the platform, described the journey as a testament to the power of collaboration.
“We’ve seen how technology can transform agriculture when it is inclusive and targeted. Farmers who can irrigate can plan, and farmers who can plan will prosper,” he added.
IRRILINE, which was funded by the World Bank through GIAR, aligns with Ghana’s efforts to promote climate-smart agriculture. The launch featured a demonstration of IRRILINE’s dashboard, a showcase of solar irrigation systems, and the screening of a short film.
