Promotion of Water-Harvesting Technologies and Their Impact on Child Growth in Northern Ghana: A Farmer Satisfaction Survey Analysis

Water scarcity is a significant challenge in rural northern Ghana, affecting agricultural productivity and child nutrition outcomes. A three-year longitudinal survey was conducted among farmers implementing water-harvesting systems in northern Ghana. Data were collected through interviews and direct observations, focusing on technology adoption rates, farmer perceptions, and child height measurements. In the first year of implementation, there was a notable increase (20%) in the proportion of farmers adopting new water-harvesting technologies compared to baseline data. The survey revealed that farmer satisfaction with water-harvesting systems correlated positively with their perceived benefits for both agricultural productivity and child nutrition outcomes. Policy recommendations include increased funding for research on sustainable water management practices in rural communities, alongside educational programmes aimed at improving technology adoption rates among farmers.