By FAVOUR NNABUGWU
Underutilisation of the country’s dams, especially by agriculturalists  is hindering the ability of the sector to producce sufficient food for the nation even as the Ministry of Water Resources challenges agriculture experts to sufficiently exploit the dams for massive food production.

The country’s dams are grossly under-used as it is only providing irrigation to less than 20 per cent  of farmers.

Almost all food products consume water as part of their production process.  However, the amount of water required per unit of production depends largely on the type of product.

Minister of Water Resources, Chief Obadiah Ando, has said that the country’s dams are not sufficiently used particularly by farmers to boost food production in the country.

Ando, at this year’s presidential summit organised by the ministry, said the under-utilisation is against the national development agenda targeted at poverty alleviation, the restoration of declining productivity and the realisation of the country’s great potentials.

He said farmers could adequately use the dams towards facilitating the growth of the agricultural sector, partially by improved and expanded irrigation, and by increasing exports; of the manufacturing sector and of tourism, as well as improved communications, mineral extraction and environmental management.

All dams in Nigeria are under the control, development, maintenance and supervision of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. They include the Kainji Dam, the Lake Chad Dam etc. These very wide powers have often constrained all other water resources agencies as well as the National Assembly from exercising control and regulation over the water sector in the country.

According to him, “the ministry is focusing on the rehabilitation of existing dams, especially the Gurara Phase II; Mambilla Dam and Kashimbilla Dam in Taraba State,” adding that “the report of the Mambilla Dam is ready for presentation to government.”

He said the construction of multipurpose dams for irrigation and water supply, has commenced which, according to him, would change and impact positively the lives of the huge population of Nigerians, especially those living in the rural areas, who engage in farming.

He pointed out that “the ministry is undertaking a tour of all existing dams to ensure their early completion for commissioning by President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Ando stressed that the government was committed to the development of water resources and the sustainable management of the ecosystem.

Sunday Vanguard investigations revealed that investment envelope for water resources and agricultural sector consist of US$962 million for the short-term, of which US$880 million is allocated for small-scale water control, US$64m to irrigation scheme rehabilitation and US$19m to large-scale hydraulic projects. For the medium-term, the total is US815m (US$556m, US$148m and US$112m). And, for the long-term the total is US$535 billion (US$278b, US$28 million and US$229m.

The country is predominantly still an agricultural society with the sector typically contributing over 40 per cent of GDP, which accounts for over  $150 billion

Efforts of the government since the late 1970s to revitalise agriculture to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food again and to increase the export of agricultural products have produced only modest results. There have been proactive global reforms in the entire global water sector in the last decade.

This trend had been become inevitable with the reoccurring water crisis worldwide. “Water is vital for the life and health of people and ecosystems and a basic requirement for the development of countries around the world, women, men and children lack access to adequate water and safe water to meet their basic needs”

Several international organizations have often funded water projects in Nigeria such as the World Bank, the European Economic Community (EEC), IMF, UNDP, international NGOS such as Water Aid have all granted Nigeria several hundred of millions of dollars for water development and supply. There is little or low participation of private sector participation in the disbursement of these water funds