Irrigation Agriculture And Poverty Allevaition in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

ABSTRACT

'• The study examined The irrigated agriculture as a means of poverty alleviation in Pa ikon Kore, Iowa and Rafin Zurfi community in Gwagwalada area council of Federal Capital Territory - Abuja a. The study explores the conceptual and theoretical issues involved in irrigation impacts and their distribution across Locations and their implication for equity and poverty reduction strategies in an irrigation system. · It was conceived in three broad objectives namely (i) Identifying the effects of irrigated agricultural projects on farmers productivity and income level as well as farm implements since their involvep1ent in irrigation fa rmi ng in th e aref:t. (ii) To identify th e • impacts of irrigated agriculture on farmers accessibility to social amenities like portable water, health services, sanitary systems and schools. (iii) Discovering the problems associated with irrigation farming in the area. The methods of data acquisition were questionnaire, oral interview a and focus group discussion. Stratified and systemic s are piing was adopted in the administration of the questionnaires. The results of this study show that all the farmers are male, that over 70% of the respondent is 36years and above. Abou t 83.2% of the respondents a re married; about 68% of the farmers are primary. school leavers and non-formal education. This shows that 76.6% of the farmers obtained their farm input ~s from the market: at exorbitant prices, and only about 16% of them obtained from the government agency. That 74.8% of the respondents earned NSO, 00 0.00 a nd a bove per a nnum. This shows that durir1g the dry season there is high income from the fa rli1 clu ~e while the ra iny season produces attracted lower income. The major problems of irrigation practice in the Lh e study area include: - cost of maintenance of their farms and the farm inputs, pest and diseases, weeds, goods and water logged problems among others. Because of their literacy level, most of the farmers lack solutions to their problems. The study, therefore, recommended that there is a need for Government to ensure adequate provision of irrigation farm implements and inputs such as agro chem!11icals (fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides etc.), improved seeds and credit facilities to the farmers and also strengthen extension services by way of increasing the funding of agricultural research, extension and training institutes.