Irrigation agriculture: An option for achieving the millennium development goals in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper reports the prospect of irrigation agriculture in transforming the dream of attaining the Millennium 
Development Goals to reality in Nigeria. Efforts of government at revitalizing agriculture before and after 2000 were 
highlighted. It identifies the poor attitude of Nigerian government towards productive agricultural system and the 
continuous importation of consumer goods that could otherwise be produced in the country as a reason why an 
average Nigerian farmer is wallowing in abject poverty. The irregular and erratic rainfall distribution over the country 
was observed as a mitigating factor against efficient agriculture system in Nigerian and irrigation was examined and 
conceptualized as an option for efficient agricultural system in Nigeria. Since there is a strong link between the MDGs 
and agriculture, a Millennium Development Goal attainment model was presented. It is opined that attaining high and 
sustainable food production through responsiveness of private sector and other stakeholders in irrigation will lead to 
higher income for farmers, such that they now have access to basic needs including farm inputs and pay other costs. 
At this level, hunger will vanish and attaining the MDGs will be easier and our dream will come true.