Strategic Baseline Study Of Ajasse Ipo Watershed Catchement Area

Executive Summary 

Presently, Nigeria is among the nations that are technically unable to meet their food supply needs from rain-fed production at a low level of inputs and appear likely to remain so even at intermediate levels of inputs at some point’s time between 2000 and 2025 (FAO 2002). For the rural areas of semi-arid Northern Nigeria, which experiences significant climatic and anthropogenic changes that have exacerbated food insecurity in the region, floodplain agriculture is critical to the survival and economic development of poor vulnerable rural households. 

Stakeholders and donor agencies have become convinced that the security offered by floodplains could become the basis for rural economic transformation and food security in semi-arid Africa, as they contribute significantly to domestic food production. In October 2004, the Nigeria government launched the Second National Fadama Development Project (Fadama II) to increase the income of farmers, fishers and other people in low lying floodplains where poverty is concentrated.

To complement the Fadama II and to ensure the long term sustainable management of Fadama lands, the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) requested the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for a grant support. Specifically, the proposed GEF intervention will provide the ecological framework for addressing the root causes of reduced Fadama agricultural productivity and the negative impact of unsustainable land-use practices.

This study provides data and information on the status of the Ajasse-Ipo Watershed Catchments (proposed GEF intervention site) prior to investment, especially on land use and land and water management.  Baseline data were collected through a review of existing documents and field investigation covering all environmental media and socioeconomics characteristics of the communities within the watershed area to obtain local environmental problems, knowledge, determine water use; examine land resource and water resource management, and status of infrastructures.

The baseline data provides a reasonably comprehensive description of the current socioeconomic conditions of the communities around the watershed, the land use practices and the management of the water and land resources. The baseline data also presents mechanism for monitoring impacts of the GEF intervention.