STRATEGIC BASELINE STUDY OF AJASSE IPO WATERSHED CATCHEMENT AREA

Presently, Nigeria is among the nations that are technically unable to meet their food supply

needs from rain-fed production at a low level of inputs and appear likely to remain so even at intermediate levels of inputs at some point’s time between 2000 and 2025 (FAO 2002). For the rural areas of semi-arid Northern Nigeria, which experiences significant climatic and

anthropogenic changes that have exacerbated food insecurity in the region, floodplain

agriculture is critical to the survival and economic development of poor vulnerable rural

households.

Stakeholders and donor agencies have become convinced that the security offered by

floodplains could become the basis for rural economic transformation and food security in

semi-arid Africa, as they contribute significantly to domestic food production. In October

2004, the Nigeria government launched the Second National Fadama Development Project

(Fadama II) to increase the income of farmers, fishers and other people in low lying

floodplains where poverty is concentrated.

To complement the Fadama II and to ensure the long term sustainable management of

Fadama lands, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) requested the Global Environment

Facility (GEF) for a grant support. Specifically, the proposed GEF intervention will provide

the ecological framework for addressing the root causes of reduced Fadama agricultural

productivity and the negative impact of unsustainable land-use practices.

This study provides data and information on the status of the Ajasse-Ipo Watershed

Catchments (proposed GEF intervention site) prior to investment, especially on land use and

land and water management. Baseline data were collected through a review of existing

documents and field investigation covering all environmental media and socioeconomics

characteristics of the communities within the watershed area to obtain local environmental

problems, knowledge, determine water use; examine land resource and water resource

management, and status of infrastructures.

The baseline data provides a reasonably comprehensive description of the current socioeconomic

conditions of the communities around the watershed, the land use practices and the

management of the water and land resources. The baseline data also presents mechanism for

monitoring impacts of the GEF intervention.

The native vegetation of the project site is open savanna woodland typical of the southern

guinea savanna. Plant species composition within the watershed is diverse and consists of

trees, shrubs and herbs. The plant community types within the watershed include fringing

vegetation, Fadama and upland farms, and plantations of Gmelina as well as woodland

savannah.

The major causes of ecosystem degradation include bush burning, overgrazing, indiscriminate felling of trees for firewood and destruction of the riparian vegetation due to establishment of Fadama farms along Oshin stream. There are no traditional and or modern soil and water conservation methods in place to arrest land degradation in the area. There is a need to establish or enhance the existing community forests within the watershed through

enlightenment campaign to prevent indiscriminate bush burning and deforestation.

Communities identified in the Ajasse-Ipo Watershed Catchments area along the River Oshin

are Ajasse-Ipo, Sanmora, Iludun-Oro, Okeya-Po, Ilala, Esie, Buari, Eggi, Igbonla, Oke-Ola-

Oro and Oro. Generally, these communities are agrarian and indigenes are within the low income strata with average monthly income of less than N15, 000. Those that combine

farming with other occupation, especially in a few communities earn more.

The social groups have varied interest in the GEF Intervention. The lack of infrastructure to

support agriculture and other activities, further compound poverty levels of the people. There is a significant local and external interest in the River Oshin as all the community residents

used the river for recreational, domestic purposes and Fadama farming.