Comparison of Land and Water Improvement Projects and the Water Management System between Japan and Nigeria

抄録

Food security is strongly linked to water security. Irrigation is recognized as a means to substantially increase agricultural productivity. Consequently, the Food and Agriculture Organization indicated that 75% of agricultural growth required in Nigeria by 2025 would have to result from intensification, with the remaining 25% resulting from arable land expansion. However, the total water demand in Nigeria was estimated to be 5.93 billion cubic meters (BCM)/year in 2010, which is expected to increase to 16.58 BCM/year by 2030. Irrigation water demands will increase from 30% to 40% under minimal utilization. Accordingly, as irrigated agriculture is likely to be promoted and expanded, there is a need for appropriate on-farm water management of the available water resources to avoid the potentially alarming problem of water shortage. Water improvement projects and the management system were described through a comparative study to investigate the major differences in water management systems. The aim was to formulate equitable and effective water management practices that can improve water use and increase food production in Nigeria. In this study, some major differences identified between Japan and Nigeria were the procedure for the development of water improvement projects; system of operation, management, and maintenance; and the relationship between water managers and farmers, which were found to be bottom-up and top-down processes, dependent and independent, and mutual relationship and individuality, respectively. A realistic solution to improve the Nigerian water management system has been proposed through an in-depth analysis based on a questionnaire and interview survey.