Assessment of Best Practices of Urban and Peri-Urban Irrigation Agriculture in Rigasa, Kaduna Metropolis: An Integrated Nominal Group Technique Approach (NGT)

Abstract

The study assessed the best practices of urban and peri-urban irrigation agriculture in Rigasa, Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria using an Integrated Nominal Group Technique Approach. The study used Focus Group Discussion, Nominal Group Technique (NGT) and interviews to collect data. Random sampling technique was applied in selecting the respondents for the FGD, while purposive sampling was adopted to select those to participate in the NGT interaction due to its conditions that the person must know how to read and write. The study was designed to assess the demographic, irrigation agricultural healthy practices and socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, (level of income increase, ownership of cultivated land, as well as acquisition of the means of transport and house ownership by the farmers). The data was analyzed using Kruskal Wallis test and NGT. The results confirmed that promoting best practice of irrigation agriculture has many health benefits to the farmers and the consumers in different dimensions, the result clearly shows farmers preference for mixed organic and chemical fertilizer. It also shows that water used for the irrigation is perceived to be contaminated by chemical fertilizer, pesticides and domestic wastes dump into the flowing water used by the farmers. The farmers recorded some financial successes such as increase in their income, acquisition of farm lands through purchase, ability to own personal means of mobility, pay health services and knowledge of best practices among others. The study recommends that improving healthy irrigation agricultural best practiceswill ensure more economic and health benefits for both farmers, and communities who consume the products