How smarter irrigation is changing Nigerian farming

When Mustapha Adamu looks over the wide stretch of farmland in Kano State, northern Nigeria, he remembers how different things used to be. Ten years ago, this 6,000-hectare land was difficult to farm. Poor access to water, depleted soil, and unpredictable weather made each planting season uncertain.

“Things were bad here,” says Mustapha, who leads a Water Users’ Association that brings together hundreds of irrigation farmers. “Farming this land was a tough task.”

But that picture is changing. With support from the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, farmers like Mustapha are now better equipped to irrigate their fields, boost productivity, and manage resources more efficiently.

Led by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation with financing from The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), the project has modernized irrigation systems, improved water management, and upgraded critical infrastructure—laying the foundation for a more resilient agriculture.

Tackling Climate and Economic Pressures

With over 70% of Nigeria’s population under 30, the demand for jobs is rising rapidly. Agriculture, which accounts for nearly a quarter of the country’s GDP and employs more than a third of the population, offers a vital path to economic opportunity. But climate change, marked by longer dry spells, frequent floods, and erratic rainfall, is putting rural livelihoods at risk. With less than 1% of Nigeria’s farmland irrigated, most farmers remain vulnerable to shifting weather patterns.

The TRIMING project supported the rehabilitation of irrigation systems and provided training for farmers across four major schemes: Kano River, Hadejia Valley, Bakolori, and Dadin Kowa. In Mustapha’s community in Kano State, irrigated land expanded to over 15,000 hectares and is  now farmed more intensively and productively.

The project’s impact extended beyond the fields. Irrigation canals were cleared, access roads repaired, and communities were introduced to better water management practices. A key part of TRIMING strategy was establishing and strengthening over 800 Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) - including Mustapha’s - to collectively manage water resources and maintain infrastructure.

Growing More with Less Uncertainty

In nearby Jigawa State, farmer Musa Idris has seen firsthand the impact of better irrigation.

“Before the project, we faced many challenges with water,” Musa recalls. “We used to get about 15 to 20 bags of rice per acre. Now, we get between 30 and 35 bags. We are preparing the land to plant tomatoes and rice, and after that, we will get ready for wheat.”

Hajiya Ramatu, a farmer and deputy leader of a women’s group, remembers the lack of support for irrigated farming before the project began in 2014—especially for women.

“That has changed - women are actively involved now,” she says, pointing proudly to a neatly planted row of paddy. “You can see this lane of rice—we are going to make some good money from it.” Her group has expanded its farmland from 22 to 37 hectares.

Improved roads have also made it easier to bring crops to the market. For Ramatu, the benefits have reached her family—her son is now attending university, something she says would have been impossible before.

Towards a Food-Secure Future

The TRIMING project improved and expanded irrigation across 43,400 hectares, producing enough crops to feed a million people—mainly farmers and their families.

With support from the Global Water Security and Sanitation Partnership (GWSP), the project also strengthened dam safety, improved drainage systems, reduced sedimentation, and promoted sustainable water management.

Building on this success, a follow-on initiative—the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria project—will scale up the impact with continued IDA support.

With Nigeria’s population projected to reach 400 million by 2050, the government has set an ambitious target: irrigate 500,000 hectares by 2030 to boost food production, enhance food security, and improve rural livelihoods.

Scaling Solutions to Feed a Growing Population

Smallholder farmers are on the frontlines of rising global demand, climate shocks, and water scarcity. By 2050, the world’s population is expected to hit 10 billion and food demand to rise by over 50%.   

Across countries, the World Bank is supporting irrigation development –within local water availability —as one of the most effective tools to increase agricultural production to feed the growing population. Compared to rain-fed farming, irrigation can more than double yields while using less land and water per unit of agriculture output produced .

In Nigeria, where most farmland still depends on rainfall - despite available local water for irrigation development - farmers like Mustapha Adamu and Hajiya Ramatu are already seeing the difference: higher yields, better incomes, and more food security  amid a changing climate.