Effect Of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority Irrigation Technologies Usage On Rice Farmers Output In Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

The water crisis being experienced is not about having too little water to satisfy human needs especially in agriculture but a crisis of proper utilization. Irrigation activities in Nigeria have been put into practice on small-scale irrigation schemes and the utilization on large scale production level needs to be investigated. The study therefore, assessed the effect of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA) irrigation technologies usage on rice farmers output in Kwara State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed in selecting 178 respondents for the study. The data collected for the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, Weighted Mean Score (WMS) and standard deviation, while Paired T-test analysis was used to test significance difference between the output of rice per hectare before and during the LNRBDA irrigation technologies. The study showed that LNRBDA irrigation technologies were beneficial to rice farmers by aiding their financial buoyancy. Also, the result of paired t-test analysis showed significance difference between the output of rice per hectare in 2016 (Pre-LNRBDA irrigation technologies) and in 2019 (during utilization of irrigation technologies) by the rice farmers (p=0.000, t= 8.642). It was concluded that LNRBDA irrigation technologies obviously led to increase in the output of rice farmers. Therefore, there is the need for concerned stakeholders such as rice farmers’ groups and extension experts to collaborate with LNRBDA thereby  organizing trainings to sensitize and improve their knowledge on the use of the available LNRBDA irrigation technologies, as this is expected to enhance their production level.