National Irrigation and Drainage Policy and Strategy.

The goal of the National Irrigation and Drainage Policy is to achieve sustainable growth and enhanced performance of irrigation, contributing fully to the goals of the Nigerian agricultural sector. Eight major policy objectives are outlined to address existing constraints and achieve accelerated and sustained irrigation development in Nigeria: Performance, viability and competitiveness; Governance and enhanced services; Socio-economic and cultural inclusion; Funding mechanism and effective private sector participation; Responsible production and sustainable development; Efficient resource utilization and rapid irrigation growth; Development and uptake of innovation; Improved capacity for sustainable data generation, management and use.
The strategy aims to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. To achieve this objective, strategic actions are outlined in order to: a) raise productivity of water for crops, livestock and aquaculture (promote water saving techniques, farming systems and incentives among existing irrigators; promote improved water allocation and use efficiency mechanisms among various users at national and basin levels as well as among farming communities and within irrigation schemes; support best practices for the safe use of marginal quality water; promote the efficient conjunctive use of water for irrigation practices); b) raise land productivity for crops, livestock and aquaculture (promote soil fertility improvement and management and land conservation practices guided by acceptable standards for different terrains and climates; promote agricultural land drainage techniques); c) enhance production potential of on-going irrigation activities; d) develop new irrigation areas according to demand and feasibility; e) increase level of mechanization of irrigation activities; f) enhance competitiveness of irrigated agriculture.
Further the strategy seeks to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural systems. Firstly it aims to encourage land consolidation for mechanized irrigation through (i) support to land cadastralization to enhance irrigation development, (ii) promotion of land titles registration to facilitate easy access, use, transfer and financial services; (iii) promotion of cluster, out-growers, contract farmers and collective commercial and mechanized irrigated agriculture for economy of scale and profitability. Moreover the document seeks to give vulnerable groups more access to natural resources and equal voice for effective management: (i) mainstream gender issues in all aspects of irrigation and throughout irrigation schemes management cycle, (ii) promote equitable land tenure reform to prevent land grabbing and fragmentation, especially with respect to accessibility to land and water for irrigation by women and other vulnerable groups, (iii) empower the women, youth, vulnerable groups and senior citizens to have legal capacity to protect their interests, and promote their participation in irrigated agriculture.
Specific strategic actions are foreseen regarding governance. They include review legal mandate to accommodate decentralization of authority, development of service-oriented public institutions and streamline institutions for irrigation development and practices.