Agbokpa, GhanaOur group is working with the Agbokpa village in Ghana. Agbokpa lies in Southern Ghana along the left-most finger of Lake Volta. The village is fairly remote and is unable to be found on mapping systems by its name alone.
Insufficient water harnessing resources leave this lakeside village in with no efficient way to sustain water-intensive crops during the dry season which is approximately half a year long. Agbokpa is primarily comprised of farmers who make a living by selling their surplus crops [crops not used to feed their families] at nearby markets. Therefore, for approximately half of the year, the majority of the village is not able to make the maximum salary due to an inability to grow certain crops because of lack of water. The Agbokpa villagers currently harness their water directly from the lake using buckets. It is not feasible to harness all the necessary water to sustain a farm during the dry season which forces them to look toward alternative forms of income during this time; primarily charcoal burning. This brings up another potential benefit of the solar-powered garden, it could potentially lessen the need for charcoal burning which has a negative effect on the global environment. However, we must further consider the cultural and social implications that such a switch might have. |