PROMOTING AGRICULTURAL RESOURCE USE AND FARM INCOME THROUGH SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION: A CASE STUDY IN SOKOTO STATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT The role of small-scale irrigation in promoting agricultural resource use and farm incomes was examined Analysis of the data collected from 50 randomly selected fadam a farmers in the Kwalkwalawa area of Sokoto Stale revealed that small-scale pump irrigation has increased the utilisation of agricultural resources, particularly land and labour, which would ha\'e probably remained idle, during the dry season The farmers also obtained an aerage net farm income of S20.962 48/ha with a rate of return on investment of 132% Crops grown by the respondents included onion, tomato, pepper, okra, sweet potato, rice and to a limited extent, wheat Considering the fairly high financial returns obtained by the farmers, it was suggested that more farmers should be encouraged to participate in small-scale irrigated farming.