Public and private actors’ roles in irrigated agriculture in Lower Anambra and Lower Benue Irrigation Projects, Nigeria

There is renewed interest in public sector irrigation in terms of institutional structures for irrigation management and the incentives for farmers. Although farmer and irrigation scheme agents have a strong motivation to ensure sustainability of the scheme, a proper understanding of their interests, roles and obligations is needed for the realization of irrigation sustainability. This paper examines the public and private agricultural actor roles, in Lower Anambra and Lower Benue Irrigation Projects in Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a total of 176 farmers from two irrigation projects in Nigeria. Focus group discussion as well as a well-structured questionnaire was administered to the farmers and staff of the schemes. Data collected were analyzed and presented using percentages and ratios. The results showed that in the Lower Anambra Irrigation scheme (LAIP), all the farmers (100%) indicated water quality, quantity and reliability as a major issue of interest to them, while 94% indicated this in Lower Benue Irrigation Project (LBIP). Appropriate technology was indicated by more than 90% in both schemes. In the LAIP, eight institutional actors were identified, while in Benue project only four actors were identified. Out of eight property rights elements, two were considered very important by the farmers for management devolution to water association. The paper recommends the revamping of irrigation schemes and formalization of property rights especially right against land conversion and water rights.