Irrigation Practice and its Management Programme in Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, Nigeria

Abstract

The present level of irrigation system and poor output level of agricultural and horticultural products have triggered the need to look for a better management strategy under the current irrigation system. In order to suggest a feasible option, this study examines the present irrigation management structure in Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority in Nigeria. Questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that majority, (86 %), of the farmers were educated, 77 % were practising commercial farming, 50 % of the farmers have been practicing irrigation for over 20 years and 60 % adopted sprinkler methods, followed by drip (27%) and the most rarely used was basin with 3 %. The sources of water used were 30 % of stream, 29 % of well and 7 % lake. Findings indicated that (30 %) of the farmers were trained and visited by the workers of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, (20 %) of the farmers were helped in their irrigation development, and only a few of the workers of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (10 and 15 %) that assisted the farmers one way or the other were the professional expert in irrigation and related fields. Majority, (70 %), of the farmers were not fully integrated into the activities of the river-basin irrigation management structure. Hence, Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority should be restructured to incorporate the irrigation stakeholders into the river-basin irrigation management structure