SkyFox performance evaluation report : integrated fish and crop production in Ghana

Abstract

An external field evaluator contracted by the Securing Water for Food (SWFF) program evaluated the

performance of the SkyFox integrated aquaculture and crop production project on the livelihood of end

users in Ghana. Specifically, the field evaluator assessed changes in water use, crop yield, time engaged

in agricultural activities, income, and poverty of end users as a result of the innovation. A structured

questionnaire uploaded on the Fulcrum software and mobile application was used to interview end users

with the aid of an interpreter.

The field evaluator found an overall reduction in labor input of 50 percent, while water usage was reduced

by 41 percent and fertilizer input was reduced by 36 percent. In addition, there was a 60 percent increase

in the mean annual income of end users, and extreme poverty level dropped from 84 to 70 percent. An

increase in income was stronger at Dambai, where end users were newly introduced into dry season

farming through the innovation, were given farmlands free, and had some labor costs absorbed by the

innovation. At Domkorkrom, although the income level was low, there was a significant increase in income.

However, all end users interviewed remained in extreme poverty. At Adawso, most end users are in the

upper income level and were able to increase their income by benefiting from the more efficient irrigation

system provided by the innovation. At least seven end users shifted from extreme poverty to low income

and upper income levels. This is a major achievement from the project, especially if this result is extrapolated

across over 10,000 end users that benefit from the innovation
.

The innovation is a strong strategy for alleviating poverty and improving the livelihood of rural people in West

Africa, where more than 70 percent of the people are poor and reside in rural areas. However, there are

important aspects of the project that need reinforcement, including access to loans, adequate maintenance

of water pipelines, provision of more irrigation equipment, and extension of the fish pond models to provide

more wastewater.