Zauro polder project
Encyclopedia
The Zauro polder project is an irrigation scheme that has long been planned for the Rima River
floodplain in Kebbi State
, Nigeria
. The project is controversial, and would demand careful management to achieve the planned benefits.
, open woodland with scattered trees. It is intersected by the lowlands of the Rima
and Niger
rivers, which are seasonally flooded.
There is a wet season between May and September, with little rain in the remainder of the year. Mean annual rainfall is about 800mm. Average temperatures are about 26 °C, ranging from 21 °C in winter to 40 °C between April and June.
Dams and irrigation schemes have often been proposed to make the abundant water of the rainy season available for farming in the dry season.
and Birnin Kebbi
, irrigating 10,572 hectares of farmland.
Crops would include rice, maize, wheat, barley and vegetables such as cow peas, onions, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes.
The dam would also benefit the fishing industry, important in the state.
The project would include construction of a reservoir and canals used to irrigate and drain polder
s, areas of farmland protected from flooding by dikes.
After a review of the original design, it was changed to reduce water loss from evaporation in the dry season, and also reduce costs, by replacing the open channels with an aquifer
recharge system, using wells to draw water from the aquifer for irrigation.
The risk of damage from flooding would be mitigated by the Goronyo Dam
upstream in Sokoto State
, which would also provide water in the dry season.
There have been repeated delays. A July 1995 report noted that the project was in "standstill" status.
In March 2003, while campaigning for reelection in Birnin Kebbi, President Olusegun Obasanjo pledged to complete the project.
In October 2006 the Federal and Kebbi state governments signed a memorandum of understanding for execution of the project, at an estimated cost of N15 billion.
In May 2008 President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
ordered work to start immediately on the first phase of the project, which was now estimated to cost over N18.5 billion.
In January 2009 Kebbi State governor Sa'idu Dakingari said work would soon commence.
A study of the project issued in 2009 stated that conditions have steadily deteriorated during the project lifetime, with water-logging causing loss of productive farmland due to salinity and alkalinity.
The causes include lack of site leveling to allow outflow of surface water, poor maintenance of drains and canals and over-irrigation by farmers. These issues would have to be addressed for the full project to succeed.
In 2000 the Federal Ministry of Water Resources said that it was planning to rehabilitate the pilot project.
An audit of Federal Government accounts for the year 2007 showed that a 2002 contract worth almost N84 million with 25% advance payment had been awarded for rehabilitation of the dikes and drainage.
However, the project seemed to have been abandoned after payment of the mobilization fee.
One concern is that the reservoir will flood the area where the Argunga fishing festival is held, an important source of income from tourists.
There were threats to disrupt to 2009 Argunga fishing festival, but the Emir promised to provide a solution after the festival was held. When none was forthcoming, the people of Argunga started throwing stones at the Emir whenever they saw him.
Some farmers are concerned that the project will flood their farmland, although they have been assured that they will be paid compensation and helped to relocate.
Others blame resistance on fear of the unknown, and are confident that the project will improve agricultural productivity, saying they are confident that the government is doing the right thing.
Conflicts over irrigation and flood control projects such as the Zauro polder project are unavoidable.
Farmers with low-lying fields want less flooding while farmers higher up want more. Fishermen want early flooding, farmers want later flooding and pastorialists want an early dry season so they can access grazing lands.
With proper management, these problems can be solved.
Rima River
The Rima River is a river in the northern part of Nigeria. At its northern most point it is joined by the Goulbi de Maradi river. It runs southwest and joins the Sokoto River near Sokoto, then continues south to the Niger River. The upper Rima is a seasonal river and flows only during the rainy...
floodplain in Kebbi State
Kebbi State
Kebbi State is a state in north-western Nigeria with its capital at Birnin Kebbi. The state was formed from part of Sokoto State in 1991. Kebbi State is bordered by Sokoto State, Niger State, Dosso Region in the Republic of Niger and the nation of Benin. It has a total area of...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The project is controversial, and would demand careful management to achieve the planned benefits.
Location
Kebbi State is mainly covered by Sudanian SavannaSudanian Savanna
The Sudanian Savanna is a broad belt of tropical savanna that runs east and west across the African continent, from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Ethiopian Highlands in the east. The Sahel, a belt of drier grasslands and acacia savannas, lies to the north, between the Sudanian Savanna and...
, open woodland with scattered trees. It is intersected by the lowlands of the Rima
Rima River
The Rima River is a river in the northern part of Nigeria. At its northern most point it is joined by the Goulbi de Maradi river. It runs southwest and joins the Sokoto River near Sokoto, then continues south to the Niger River. The upper Rima is a seasonal river and flows only during the rainy...
and Niger
Niger River
The Niger River is the principal river of western Africa, extending about . Its drainage basin is in area. Its source is in the Guinea Highlands in southeastern Guinea...
rivers, which are seasonally flooded.
There is a wet season between May and September, with little rain in the remainder of the year. Mean annual rainfall is about 800mm. Average temperatures are about 26 °C, ranging from 21 °C in winter to 40 °C between April and June.
Dams and irrigation schemes have often been proposed to make the abundant water of the rainy season available for farming in the dry season.
Plan
The project was originally conceived in 1969 as a joint venture between the state government and the federal ministry of agriculture and water resources. The dam would be situated in the floodplain of the Rima River between ArgunguArgungu
Argungu is a city in Nigeria's Kebbi State, situated on the Sokoto River. As of 2007 Argungu had an estimated population of 47,064.The city is the seat of the Argungu Emirate, a traditional state....
and Birnin Kebbi
Birnin Kebbi
Birnin Kebbi is a city located in northwestern Nigeria. It is the capital city of Kebbi State and headquarters of the Gwandu Emirate. As of 2007 the city has an estimated population of 115,547....
, irrigating 10,572 hectares of farmland.
Crops would include rice, maize, wheat, barley and vegetables such as cow peas, onions, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes.
The dam would also benefit the fishing industry, important in the state.
The project would include construction of a reservoir and canals used to irrigate and drain polder
Polder
A polder is a low-lying tract of land enclosed by embankments known as dikes, that forms an artificial hydrological entity, meaning it has no connection with outside water other than through manually-operated devices...
s, areas of farmland protected from flooding by dikes.
After a review of the original design, it was changed to reduce water loss from evaporation in the dry season, and also reduce costs, by replacing the open channels with an aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
recharge system, using wells to draw water from the aquifer for irrigation.
The risk of damage from flooding would be mitigated by the Goronyo Dam
Goronyo Dam
The Goronyo Dam impounds the Rima River in Goronyo local government area of Sokoto State in the north of Nigeria. It was completed in 1984 and commissioned in 1992...
upstream in Sokoto State
Sokoto State
Sokoto State is located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2005 it has an estimated population of more than 4.2 million...
, which would also provide water in the dry season.
There have been repeated delays. A July 1995 report noted that the project was in "standstill" status.
In March 2003, while campaigning for reelection in Birnin Kebbi, President Olusegun Obasanjo pledged to complete the project.
In October 2006 the Federal and Kebbi state governments signed a memorandum of understanding for execution of the project, at an estimated cost of N15 billion.
In May 2008 President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua
Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was the President of Nigeria and the 13th Head of State. He served as governor of Katsina State in northern Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 28 May 2007. He was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April 2007, and was sworn in on 29 May...
ordered work to start immediately on the first phase of the project, which was now estimated to cost over N18.5 billion.
In January 2009 Kebbi State governor Sa'idu Dakingari said work would soon commence.
Pilot project
A pilot project was inaugurated in 1982 covering 100 hectares in the northern part of Birnin Kebbi.A study of the project issued in 2009 stated that conditions have steadily deteriorated during the project lifetime, with water-logging causing loss of productive farmland due to salinity and alkalinity.
The causes include lack of site leveling to allow outflow of surface water, poor maintenance of drains and canals and over-irrigation by farmers. These issues would have to be addressed for the full project to succeed.
In 2000 the Federal Ministry of Water Resources said that it was planning to rehabilitate the pilot project.
An audit of Federal Government accounts for the year 2007 showed that a 2002 contract worth almost N84 million with 25% advance payment had been awarded for rehabilitation of the dikes and drainage.
However, the project seemed to have been abandoned after payment of the mobilization fee.
Controversy
In July 2008, over 1,000 farmers protesting the siting of the project tried to lynch the Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu and the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera at the Emir's palace.One concern is that the reservoir will flood the area where the Argunga fishing festival is held, an important source of income from tourists.
There were threats to disrupt to 2009 Argunga fishing festival, but the Emir promised to provide a solution after the festival was held. When none was forthcoming, the people of Argunga started throwing stones at the Emir whenever they saw him.
Some farmers are concerned that the project will flood their farmland, although they have been assured that they will be paid compensation and helped to relocate.
Others blame resistance on fear of the unknown, and are confident that the project will improve agricultural productivity, saying they are confident that the government is doing the right thing.
Conflicts over irrigation and flood control projects such as the Zauro polder project are unavoidable.
Farmers with low-lying fields want less flooding while farmers higher up want more. Fishermen want early flooding, farmers want later flooding and pastorialists want an early dry season so they can access grazing lands.
With proper management, these problems can be solved.