ABSTRACT
The focus of this study is Impact of Jibia Dam Irrigation Project on Wheat Production and Livelihoods of Beneficiaries in Katsina State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to: describe socio-economic characteristics of participants and non-participants, determine the factors influencing participation of respondents in Jibia dam irrigation project on wheat production, assess the impact of Jibia dam irrigation project on the output, yield, income and livelihood of participants and non-participants and describe constraints encountered by participants in the implementation of the project in Katsina State. Multi- stage sampling was used for this study. First stage, a list of six (6) project areas (villages) as at 2013 was obtained from the programme office, three (3) villages each for two categories of farmers; participants and non- participants. Second stage, 12% of the population for the two categories of farmers; participants and non- participants were randomly selected to give a total sample size of 166. Primary data were collected from two categories of farmers; participants and non- participants of Jibia dam irrigation project through the use of structured questionnaire. Tools for analyses were descriptive statistics such as means, frequencies, percentages, multiple regression, logit regression and chow test. Results of data analysis revealed that the mean ages of participants and non- participants were 49 and 44 years respectively. The results from logit regression analysis revealed that farming experience, farm size, labour, extension contact, cooperative association were the factors that collectively influence 75% of the participation of the respondents in Jibia dam irrigation project. The results from chow test revealed that Jibia dam irrigation project had significant impact on participants output, yield, income and living standard at 1% levels of probability. Majority (25%) of the respondents ranked insufficient farm inputs such as fertilizer and agrochemical as the foremost constraints. From the result of chow test it can be concluded that the participation in Jibia irrigation project has contributed positively and significantly on the output, income, yield and standard of living of participating in wheat farming households in the study area. It was therefore recommended that the farmers could be linked -up with sources of input production through enlightenment by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development so as to ensure that more farmers have access to inputs (seeds and fertilizer) through the E-wallet scheme through their cooperative societies.
