The International Water Management Institute (IIWMI) has unveiled the commencement of a farmer-led irrigation development programme for small-scale farmers across Nigeria.

The Director General IWMI Mr Marks Smith who disclosed this yesterday at a sideline event organized at the ongoing 6th African Regional Conference on Irrigation and Drainage (ACRID) said the research institute has been working in Asia and African countries on water management and also supporting development of irrigation for small scale farmers.

He mentioned that many stakeholders believe that for farmer-led irrigation programme to be successful, it is important to put farmers at the center by making sure they have access to the Bess possible support services

Smith harped on the need for farmers to be linked to the provision of information and technology, access to equipment, and financing that is needed to help them make the investments that they need, as well as provide them with irrigation facilities that would increase their productivity while guaranteeing markets for their produce

While emphasising the need for improved flood water management in the country, IWMI DG said floods can be a blessing as well as a disaster if not well prepared for

He said there are different means farmers can adopt to effectively manage flood water, some of them include putting in place small-scale structures to capture rainwater, also the flood water can be maximised to recharge the groundwater, which can later be drawn for irrigation

Smith disclosed that another aspect is the development of large-scale infrastructure for water storage adding that there is also the wetlands’ natural storage of water, which can be released during the year through natural process.

The President of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Dr Marco Acieri, said the conference organized by ICID is important as it highlights some of the challenges faced on the African continent and Nigeria in particular saying the main issue is how to cope with the increasing demand for food, water availability or scarcity among others.

He said the conference had attendance in other countries like Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Burkina Faso, and Niger, among others.