Irrigation, income and poverty alleviation: an assessment study of kampe irrigation dam in Ejiba (Kogi state, Nigeria)

Irrigation has been suggested to be a central key part in curbing food scarcity and alleviating poverty not only in Nigeria but also in many other developing countries. The continued dependence on rainfall in agriculture has proved incapable of sustaining the population increase. The study was conducted to assess the role of Kampe irrigation dam on farm household’s income-poverty status in Kogi State, Nigeria. A two stage sampling technique was utilized for the study. Samples were drawn from irrigation beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries within the project community. A total of 140 respondents were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Also, the study used the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) model which was used to examine the incidence, gap and severity of poverty among the sampled respondents. Logit regression model was used to identify the factors contributing to poverty state in the study area. The poverty incidence was 41% and 57% for irrigation beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries respectively. Poverty gap i.e aggregate expenditure shortfall was 6% and 21% for irrigation beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries respectively. However, poverty severity was much higher among irrigation beneficiaries (28%) and 23% for irrigation non-beneficiaries. Farm household size, total annual farm income and total input cost all contributed to the poverty situation in the study area. The study agree that irrigation dam project would contribute to reducing income-poverty of irrigation farm households, from the result, the study also, based on the key research findings, this study provides recommendations on policy and interventions for making irrigated agriculture effective tool for poverty reduction program.