Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T03:27:38.318Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The use of human waste for peri-urban agriculture in Northern Ghana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2007

O.O. Cofie ,
G. Kranjac-Berisavljevic  and
Pay Drechsel
O.O. Cofie*
Affiliation:
International Water Management Institute, Sub-Regional Office, Accra, Ghana.
G. Kranjac-Berisavljevic
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Mechanization and Irrigation Technology, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.
Pay Drechsel
Affiliation:
International Water Management Institute, Sub-Regional Office, Accra, Ghana.
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

In Ghana, studies on the use of organic materials to increase soil productivity have focused on crop-residue management, use of green and animal manures, and legume cover cropping. Few studies have assessed the use of human waste for agriculture, even though this is widely practiced by farmers in the northern part of the country. This study was carried out to investigate the stakeholders in the use of faecal sludge (FS) for crop production in Tamale and Bolgatanga municipalities in the guinea savanna agroecological zone of Ghana. The aim was to determine the driving factors, constraints and potentials for this practice. Field survey and focus group discussions were carried out among 90 farmers who use FS, and officials of the Municipal Sanitation Unit were interviewed. Sixty-four percent of farmers interviewed used FS as a cost-effective way to improve soil fertility and increase yields of maize and sorghum. Sludge is discharged by spreading it on the soil surface, or it is stored and dried in pits during the dry season and incorporated into the soil at the onset of the rainy season. The high temperatures of the savanna climate and this long period of drying allow sludge to be handled easily. Although this treatment is perceived to reduce the number of pathogens in dried sludge, 22% of farmers complained of itching feet and foot rot after working with FS, which is done without wearing protective foot covering. This constraint is coupled with the foul smell, transport problem and public mockery associated with the use of human waste for agriculture. In spite of these problems, there is competition for FS among farmers, due to benefits derived from its use. Further investigation is required to ascertain the causes of itching feet and foot rot, and there is a need for education on proper handling and appropriate hygiene practices when working with FS. Information regarding optimal FS application rates is also required.

Keywords

human wastefaecal sludgeperi-urban agricultureGhana
Type
Research Article
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , June 2005 , pp. 73 - 80
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

References

1United Nations-Habitat. 2001. Cities in a globalizing world. Global Report on Human Settlements 2001. UNCHS, Earthscan Publications, London. p. 271.Google Scholar
2Cofie, O., Drechsel, P., Obuobie, E., Danso, G., and Keraita, B. 2003. Environmental sanitation and urban agriculture in Ghana. In Harvey P. (ed.). Towards the Millenium Development Goals: actions for Water and Environmental Sanitation. Proceedings of the 29th WEDC conference,Abuja, Nigeria.9–12.Google Scholar
3Strauss, M., Larmie, S.A., and Heinss, U. 1997. Treatment of sludges from on-site sanitation: low-cost options. Water Science and Technology 35: 6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Heinss, U., Larmie, S.A., and Strauss, M. 1998. Solids separation and pond systems for the treatment of septage and public toilet sludges in tropical climate – lessons learnt and recommendations for preliminary design. EAWAG/SANDEC Report No. 05/98, Duebendorf, Switzerland.Google Scholar
5Furedy, C. and Chowdhury, T. 1996. Solid waste re-use and urban agriculture: dilemmas in developing countries: the bad news and the good news. Paper presented at the Joint Congress of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning, and Association of European Schools of Planning, Toronto. Available at Web site http://www.cityfarmer.org/Furedy.html (verified 22 June 2004).Google Scholar
6Strauss, M. 2000.Human waste (excreta and wastewater) reuse. Contribution to ETC/SIDA Bibliography on Urban Agriculture EAWAG/SANDEC, Duebendorf, Switzerland Available at website http://www.sandec.ch/urbanAgriculture/pages/UA-key_readings.html (verified 18 October 2004).Google Scholar
7Blumenthal, U.J., Peasey, A., Ruiz-Palacios, G., and Mara, D.D. 2000. Guidelines for wastewater reuse in agriculture and aquaculture: recommended revisions based on new research evidence. WELL Study No. 68 part 1. WELL, London. Available at web site: http://lboro.ac.uk/well/Google Scholar
8Drechsel, P., Blumenthal, U. and Keraita, B. 2002. Balancing health and livelihoods: adjusting wastewater irrigation guidelines for resource-poor countries. Urban Agriculture 8: 7–9.Google Scholar
9Keraita, B., Drechsel, P., and Amoah, P. 2003. Influence of urban wastewater on stream water quality and agriculture in and around Kumasi, Ghana. Environment and Urbanization 15:(2): 171–178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10Timmer, L. and Visker, C. 1998. Possibilities and Impossibilities of the Use of Human Excreta as Fertiliser in Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. Royal Tropical Institute and University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
11Visker, C. 1998. Utilisation des Excréta Comme Fertilisant dans l'Agriculture en Zones Urbaines et Péri-urbaines de Bamako, Mali. Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam and Cabinet d'Etudes Keita – Kala-Saba/UWEP-Mali, Bamako, Mali.Google Scholar
12Timmer, L. 1999. Gestion des Excréments Humains et leur Utilisation Comme Fertilisant pour l'Agriculture dans la Zone de Niono, Mali. Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam; Alphalog-Mali and CRRA-Mali.Google Scholar
13Strauss, M., Heinss, U., and Montangero, A. 2000. On-site sanitation: when the pits are full – planning for resource protection in faecal sludge management. In Chorus, I., Ringelband, U., Schlag, G. and Schmoll, O. (eds). Water, Sanitation and Health – Resolving Conflicts between Drinking Water Demands and Pressures from Society's Wastes. IWA Publishing House and WHO Water Series, London. 353–360.Google Scholar
14Drangert, J.O. 1998. Fighting the urine blindness to provide more sanitation options. Water South Africa 24:(2) 157–164.Google Scholar
15Composting Council USA 2000. Field Guide for Compost Use. Available at Web site http://www.compostingcouncil.org/pdf/fgcu_1-Benefits_of_Compost.pdf (verified 22 June 2004).Google Scholar
16Feachem, R.G., Bradley, D.J., Garelick, H., and Mara, D.D. 1983. Sanitation and Disease – Health Aspects of Excreta and Wastewater Management. John Wiley & Sons, New York.Google Scholar
17Strauss, M. 1985. Health Aspects of Nightsoil and Sludge Use in Agriculture and Aquaculture – Part II. Pathogen Survival. Report no. 04/85. International Reference Centre for Waste Disposal (now SANDEC), Duebendorf, Switzerland.Google Scholar
18Blum, D. and Feachem, R.G. 1985. Health Aspects of Nightsoil and Sludge Use in Agriculture and Aquaculture – Part III: An Epidemiological Perspective. Report no. 05/85. International Reference Centre for Waste Disposal (now SANDEC), Duebendorf, Switzerland.Google Scholar
19Ghana Statistics Service. 2002. 2000 Population and Housing Census: Summary Report of Final Results. Ghana Statistics Service, Accra, Ghana.Google Scholar
20Acheampong, O. 1999. Managing soils for sustainable production of food and industrial crops. Keynote Address, Proceedings of the 16th Annual general meeting of the Soil Science Society of Ghana 1–3Google Scholar
21Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Government of Ghana. 1998. National Soil Fertility Management Action Plan. Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra Ghana.Google Scholar
22Ofori, C.S. and Fianu, F. 1996. Sustaining soil fertility in Ghana. an integrated nutrient management approach. In Ofori, F. and Safo, E.Y. (eds). Proceedings of the National Workshop on Soil Fertility Management Action Plan for Ghana. Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana.Google Scholar
23Quansah, C. 2000. Integrated soil management for sustainable agriculture and food security: Ghana case study. In FAO-RAF 2000/01 Integrated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security: Case Studies from 4 Countries in West Africa. FAO, Accra, Ghana. p. 33–75.Google Scholar
24PPMED. 1997. Report. Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Accra, Ghana.Google Scholar
25Gerner, H., Asante, E.O., Owusu-Bennoah, E., and Marfo, K. 1995. Ghana fertilizer privatization scheme: Private sector roles and public sector responsibilities in meeting needs of farmers. Citing Ghana Grains Development Project 1992. 14th Annual Report, part 2. Research results, Crops Research Institute Ghana.Google Scholar
26Owusu-Bennoah, E. and Visker, C. 1994. Organic wastes hijacked. ILEIA Newsletter October, p. 12–13.Google Scholar
27Ghana Meteorological Services Department Annual Weather Records for 2002.Google Scholar
28Asare, I., Kranjac-Berisavljevic, G., and Cofie, O. 2003. Faecal Sludge Application for Agriculture in Tamale. Urban Agriculture. 10: 32–33.Google Scholar
29Asare, I. 2002. Human waste in Tamale. Unpublished report, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana.Google Scholar