Irrigation Practice and its Management Programme in Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, Nigeria

The present level of irrigation system and poor output level of agricultural and horticultural products have triggered the need to look for a better management strategy under the current irrigation system. In order to suggest a feasible option, this study examines the present irrigation management structure in Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority in Nigeria. Questionnaire and in-depth interviews were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that majority, (86 %), of the farmers were educated, 77 % were practising commercial farming, 50 % of the farmers have been practicing irrigation for over 20 years and 60 % adopted sprinkler methods, followed by drip (27%) and the most rarely used was basin with 3 %. The sources of water used were 30 % of stream, 29 % of well and 7 % lake. Findings indicated that (30 %) of the farmers were trained and visited by the workers of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority, (20 %) of the farmers were helped in their irrigation development, and only a few of the workers of Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (10 and 15 %) that assisted the farmers one way or the other were the professional expert in irrigation and related fields. Majority, (70 %), of the farmers were not fully integrated into the activities of the river-basin irrigation management structure. Hence, Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority should be restructured to incorporate the irrigation stakeholders into the river-basin irrigation management structur

Assessment of Catfish Effluents Management in Lagos State, Nigeria

Catfish is one of the major sources of dietary protein in Nigeria. Lagos State is one of culturing areas with abundant fresh water and marine environments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the catfish rearing industry and its effluents management and make appropriate recommendations. Forty fish farms were randomly selected in Lagos State for the study. Questionnaire and in-depth interview were used for data collection on water sources, equipment operations, and waste management. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results indicated that over 80% of water for fish rearing was from shallow wells and 95% of the waste water generated was not treated before disposal into the environment. Effluents disposals employed were open pit (12.5%), drainage canal (32.5%), bare-land (20.0%), stream (22.5%) and re-used on farm (12.5%) and these methods of disposal were not significantly different (p ≤ 0.05). Only a few farmers carried out simple treatment before disposal namely; infiltration (2.5%) and sedimentation (2.5%). If the effluent management conditions were not improved, it could pose a threat to the environment in the study areas. Pond effluent must be treated before being disposed into the environment and waste water from fish pond effluent should be reused as irrigation water