Researchers at the University of Manchester are using AI and satellite imagery to map irrigation across Ghana, producing time-sensitive maps that reveal where and when farmers adopt irrigation. The data are meant to help governments, NGOs and the private sector target irrigation investments to improve food and water security for smallholder farmers. Studies cited by the team show irrigation is critical: without it, 95% of Indian farm districts would face greater crop-failure risk, and rice failures could rise by about 26% under continued climate change. The project aims to guide climate-resilient, water-efficient agricultural planning in vulnerable regions.
AI and Satellites Map Irrigation in Ghana — A New Tool to Boost Food and Water Security
Researchers at the University of Manchester are using AI and satellite imagery to map irrigation across Ghana, producing time-sensitive maps that reveal where and when farmers adopt irrigation. The data are meant to help governments, NGOs and the private sector target irrigation investments to improve food and water security for smallholder farmers. Studies cited by the team show irrigation is critical: without it, 95% of Indian farm districts would face greater crop-failure risk, and rice failures could rise by about 26% under continued climate change. The project aims to guide climate-resilient, water-efficient agricultural planning in vulnerable regions.
11:55 AM, 11/12/2025Environment
AI and Satellite Data Help Track Irrigation Adoption in Ghana
The agriculture sector accounts for roughly 70% of global freshwater use, yet detailed knowledge of how and where that water is used remains limited. Researchers at the University of Manchester are addressing this gap by combining artificial intelligence with high-resolution satellite imagery to identify and map irrigation sites across Ghana.
The project detects irrigated areas and tracks when and where farmers adopt irrigation practices, producing maps that can be used over time to show trends in water use and agricultural resilience. The team intends these maps to inform governments, development agencies, NGOs and private-sector actors so they can better design and target irrigation investments that strengthen food and water security for smallholder farmers.
“We can now rapidly map and monitor where and when farmers are adopting irrigation in Ghana and other African countries,” said Dr. Tim Foster of the research team. “We use these maps to help governments, development agencies, NGOs and the private sector to better design and target irrigation projects, to improve food security and help reduce rural poverty.”
The researchers — Dr. Tim Foster, Shoobhangi Tyagi and Christopher Bowden — emphasize that irrigation supplies crops with controlled water sources instead of relying solely on rainfall, reducing drought-related risks and improving crop reliability. As climate change alters precipitation patterns and increases the frequency of drought, aligning irrigation practices with these shifts becomes essential both to conserve water and to protect food supplies.
Supporting the importance of irrigation, a study in the IOP Science Journal warns that without irrigation about 95% of farm districts in India would face an increased probability of crop failure. The journal also projects that rice production failures in India could increase by roughly 26% under continued climate change, underscoring the need for resilient water-management strategies in major food-producing regions.
By producing timely, data-driven maps of irrigation adoption, the Manchester team aims to help policymakers and development partners target interventions that reduce agricultural vulnerability, improve yields, and support rural livelihoods. These maps can guide efficient allocation of resources, promote sustainable water use, and inform climate-adaptive planning across vulnerable farming regions.