Water Woes Persist for Nigerian Farmers Despite 264 Dams
Yinusa Mohammed, a farmer from Zauro town in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, is still grappling with debts from a devastating flood in 2022.
The lack of insurance and persistent water shortages have prevented him from planting anything during this year’s dry spell.
This situation not only endangers his livelihood but also hinders his ability to repay the loan he took last year.
Unfortunately, this precarious situation is not unique to Mohammed. It’s a common struggle for millions of smallholder farmers in Nigeria, despite the country’s 264 dams.
The Federal Government has invested billions in dam construction and irrigation systems, yet the results are far from satisfactory.
Ibrahim Kabiru, the national president of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, highlights the dire situation:
“Farmers in Nigeria have been impacted by the lack of access to water to the extent that there is no real enabling environment for sustainable all-year-round agricultural production in the entire country.”
Despite the urgent need for increased local food production, most dams in the country remain in disrepair, and irrigation schemes are non-functional. This has pushed some farmers to allocate a significant portion of their earnings to manual irrigation systems and boreholes, especially during dry spells when the cost of petrol is high. For those unable to afford these methods, they are left with no choice but to rely solely on rain-fed agriculture.
This raises critical questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s numerous dams. Experts argue that a more fruitful approach would be to enhance the utilization of existing dams rather than constructing new ones. Kabiru emphasizes this point: “The farmers will be better served by improvement in the utilisation of existing dams than even building new ones.”
According to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Nigeria boasts a total of 264 dams with a collective storage capacity of 33 BCM of water for various purposes. Of these, 210 are under federal ownership, 34 belong to the states, and 20 are in private hands.
AfricanFarmer Mogaji, CEO of X-Ray Farms, points out a significant issue: many operating river basins face water blockages due to sand accumulation, severely reducing water flow for farmers. “There are river basins shut out from thousands of acres of farmlands because the people did not desilt it, and these are concrete canals that just need to be desilted,” he explains. Some dams also require funding due to collapsed parts.
Mogaji highlights another concern: budget cuts to water resource allocations at the Senate due to a lack of expertise among those overseeing the ministry. He suggests that private investment with the capacity to efficiently manage water resources could be a more effective approach.
Despite having a potential irrigation land of about 3.1 million hectares, only 150,000 hectares have been developed, according to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Abiodun Olorundero, MD of AquaShoots Limited, reveals that most dams in the southwest region are non-operational. He argues that the government and its personnel lack the capacity to manage these infrastructures efficiently. Thus, a transparent bidding process for private investment is crucial for revitalizing water resources and bolstering agriculture.
Experts contend that before Nigeria can achieve food security, it must confront issues of mismanagement, embezzlement, and corruption within the agricultural sector head-on.
We do hope that the information we were able to provide you is helpful. Check out other unique articles on our blog for more detailed information and do well to share with your friends and family. Follow us on our Twitter and Facebook to stay updated with premium details.
Please leave any comments or questions in the area given below.
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in AgriTalker are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AgriTalker. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.
Information is presented to the best of our knowledge and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability concerning the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Therefore, any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.
EXTRA: Be sure to consistently check https://www.agritalker.com/ for an abundance of valuable resources, including tips, news, and updates on agriculture and farming practices to stay informed and enhance your expertise
