The Effects of Water Hyacinth Invasion on Smallholder Farming along River Tano and Tano Lagoon, Ghana

Abstract

Water hyacinth invasion and its associated effects have been reported to be a source of problems to riparian people, posing challenges to activities like fishing and farming along invaded waterbodies. Based on cross-sectional research with 55 farmers who were sampled using the snowballing sampling technique, this study assesses the effects of water hyacinth invasion on smallholder farming activities in the Jomoro District. Four communities along the River Tano and Tano Lagoon in the district were purposively selected for the study. Individual surveys and Focus Group Discussions were used as data collection methods to assess the situation. Among the problems posed by water hyacinth invasion to smallholder farming in the study area were the destruction of farm produce due to the blockade caused by water hyacinth on the water bodies, reduced profit from farm output and economic hardship. We recommend that interactive participation involving farmers, district and traditional authorities, and rural development agencies should be adopted to control the spread of the water hyacinth to a level where it will cease to impede the activities of the riparian people.

Keywords

• smallholder farming
• water hyacinth
• livelihood
• riparian people
• jomoro district
• ghana