Working Group 1

1. Integrated Water Resources Management and
Sustainable Agriculture in Nigeria: A Study of The
Sokoto-Rima Basin
W.B.R. Graham
Department of Agricultural Engineering, Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic, Nigeria grayhomestead@gmail.com
Introduction Integrated Water Management
The Sokoto Rima basin (SRB) Strategies
located (4 7 E;11 14 N) is a part A simple properly
of the Niger river basin aligned windbreak
would have
A “top down” approach has been
prevented this
used in developing water
‘accident’.
resources.
The result has been the building Over the years farmers who
of very large dams and irrigation practice irrigated agriculture in the
schemes that have, after many SRB have been pampered getting
years reached only 10 to 20% of most of the development aid.
their potential.
What about forming Land Users
Associations?
Water and Agriculture in the Must water resources
SRB development always be linked to
Farming practices in the SRB are large dams?
not eco-friendly and have a What about other water sources
tremendous impact on water (groundwater)?
resources Dams have lead to the
degradation of valuable wetlands
(Fadama) in the SRB
Poverty is also a major factor in
the degradation of land and water
Most large scale irrigation projects resources
are in a sorry state
Conclusion
Strategies must be adopted to
improve upland farming practices
for sustainable integrated water
management in the basin