Economic Support for Agricultural Wellbeing in Rural Water Delivery by Local Empowerment and Environmental Management Project in South-east Nigeria

This paper studied the economic support of agricultural wellbeing in rural water delivery of Local Empowerment and Environmental Management Project (LEEMP)in southeastern Nigeria. Data sources were primary and personal observations of the authors, and were also incorporated into the study. The study adopted survey design. Simple Random Survey (SRS) was used with names in hat balloting method for each community studies. One hundred and eighty farmers (180 farmers) were randomly selected from the purposefully selected communities of Enugu and Imo states farmers that benefitted from LEEMP micro-project water-borehole delivery support. The farmers comprised 43% females and 57% males. About 31% of the farmers had tertiary education; 29% of the farmers had secondary school education. 27% had only primary education while 13% had no education. Most of the farmers were within the age bracket of 36-49 years.The data were analyzed using percentages, regression analysis, and marginal analysis model. The paper concluded that the water delivery support was generally positive on agricultural, economic and social development and, made living and livelihood to be attractive within the water micro-project recipient communities. Poverty was reduced by 67%. The micro-project water delivery benefitting communities had on the average 42 minutes timeliness of farm operation, thereby generating employment. The water delivery support significantly (p ˂0.05) increased income in dry season poultry and fishery. However, greater number of farmers in water benefitting communities still had inadequate participatory capacities to effectively utilize the water support for livelihood agricultural earnings since the 6% score on water volume used by small scale farmers as against 81% for large scale farmers indicated differential participation by the two categories of livestock farmers. The study therefore recommends collaborative support of agricultural extension in water benefiting communities by partnering the States’ Agricultural Development Programmes (State ADPs). Also, there should be greater expansion of LEEMP/CSDP water delivery support to all water-stressed communities.