Alleviating Poverty and Hunger through Irrigation Schemes in Nigeria: A Study Case of Lower Anambra River Basin Authority in Omor Anambra State

Abstract— Agricultural production in Nigeria is mainly carried out by subsistence farmers who depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture and use of rudimentary traditional methods for their production. But despite abundant water resources and rainfall in addition to wide diversity of ecological conditions with which Nigeria is blessed, the amount and timing of the rains are not adequate to meet the water requirement of the crops. This has led to low agricultural yields resulting to low income earning among farmers, diseases, hunger and malnutrition. Therefore, in order to meet national target on poverty reduction, and food security, the Federal Government of Nigeria embarked on establishment of irrigation facilities to make water available for agricultural production all the year round. One of such irrigation projects is the Lower Anambra-Imo River Basin Irrigation Project at Omor, in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. This study was undertaken to investigate the contributions of Lower Anambra-Imo River Basin Irrigation Project in Omor, Anambra State, Nigeria; towards alleviating poverty and eradication of hunger and malnutrition. Primary data for this study was collected from 200 farmers who were randomly selected and given structured questionnaire designed to seek information in such areas as age, literacy level, and number of farm holdings, efficiency of irrigation water supply, and other challenges encountered by the farmers. The study revealed general switch from low-value subsistence farming to high-level market–oriented production resulting in increase in farmers’ production, increased income, and provision of basic infrastructure such as roads, hospitals, schools in the area.