Small-Scale Irrigation Practices and Their Effects on Farmers’ Livelihoods in Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47514/kjg.2025.07.01.039Keywords:
Hadejia-Jamaare Basin, Irrigation, Jamaare LGA, Farmers' Livelihoods, Bauchi StateAbstract
This study was conducted on Small-Scale Irrigation Practices and Their Effects on Farmers’ Livelihoods in Jama’are Local Government Area, Bauchi State, Nigeria. The data type was derived from both primary and secondary sources, and simple random sampling was used to select a sample of 357. A structured interview schedule was used for data collection, which was analyzed using frequency tabulations, percentages, and the Chi-Square test. The results - presented in tables - revealed that the majority of farmers in Jama’are LGA were males (94%), mostly in the economically active age group, with informal educational qualifications, large household sizes, and were mainly engaged in business and other occupations. Furthermore, irrigation water use in the LGA increased significantly over the last 10 years, with none-shaduf irrigation (80%) for rice production (55%) and highly supported by NPK and Urea (76%) applications, ranging from 1–10 bags. Moreover, the effects of irrigation practices on the livelihoods of farmers in the LGA were positive, as indicated by high (95%) crop profitability, with yield reductions attributed solely to insufficient water supply and numerous welfare effects. It was recommended that the community, governments, NGOs, and other stakeholders support and encourage women farmers in Jama’are LGA to adopt irrigation practices to boost food production in the LGA.
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