PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF OKUTA OJA IRRIGATION EARTH DAM USING COMPARATIVE INDICATORS

Abstract

Okuta oja earth Dam was constructed over Bariba River in Kwara state to enhance dry season agriculture farming in the area. Research was conducted to investigate the performance of the dam with respect to agricultural and environmental aspects and improvement in the socio-economic status of rural life. Both primary and secondary data were collected by conducting focus group discussions (FGD) with the 192 stakeholders using questionnaires and people of relevant local organizations of the dam area. The parameter such as Annual income, Employment opportunity, Agricultural production, Fish production, Command area Efficiency (CAE), Management Performance Ratio (MPR), and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) were calculated. The result showed that about 79 % increased annual income, 91 % Employment opportunity, 74 % agricultural production, 93% fish production increased that of earlier situation. However, it is observed from the study that the cost to benefit ratio is not encouraging due to peasant nature of agricultural tools being used by the farmers. Agricultural indices (percent sodium, %Na, sodium absorption ratio, SAR, permeability index, PI and magnesium hazard, MH) employed to study the suitability of the water for irrigation revealed that the analyzed surface water samples are suitable for irrigation purposes.Okuta oja earth Dam was constructed over Bariba River in Kwara state to enhance dry season agriculture farming in the area. Research was conducted to investigate the performance of the dam with respect to agricultural and environmental aspects and improvement in the socio-economic status of rural life. Both primary and secondary data were collected by conducting focus group discussions (FGD) with the 192 stakeholders using questionnaires and people of relevant local organizations of the dam area. The parameter such as Annual income, Employment opportunity, Agricultural production, Fish production, Command area Efficiency (CAE), Management Performance Ratio (MPR), and Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR) were calculated. The result showed that about 79 % increased annual income, 91 % Employment opportunity, 74 % agricultural production, 93% fish production increased that of earlier situation. However, it is observed from the study that the cost to benefit ratio is not encouraging due to peasant nature of agricultural tools being used by the farmers. Agricultural indices (percent sodium, %Na, sodium absorption ratio, SAR, permeability index, PI and magnesium hazard, MH) employed to study the suitability of the water for irrigation revealed that the analyzed surface water samples are suitable for irrigation purposes.