Assessment of Irrigation Scheduling Practices for Dry Season Vegetable Production in Sokoto State

Dry season vegetable production in Sokoto State is largely dependent on irrigation from the Sokoto-Rima river system and shallow wells, making efficient irrigation scheduling a critical component of water resource management. Poor scheduling practices lead to either water stress or waterlogging, both of which reduce crop productivity and increase input costs. This study assesses the irrigation scheduling knowledge, practices, and challenges of smallholder dry season vegetable farmers in three local government areas of Sokoto State. A structured questionnaire was administered to 100 randomly selected farmers, and focus group discussions were held in two farming communities. Descriptive statistics were used for quantitative data, while qualitative responses were analyzed thematically. Results indicate that most farmers irrigate based on visual observation of soil or crop condition rather than scientific scheduling methods, leading to over-irrigation in approximately 60 percent of cases. Access to tensiometers or other soil moisture measurement tools is virtually non-existent among the surveyed farmers. The study identifies limited extension service capacity and low literacy levels as key constraints to improved scheduling adoption. Recommendations include training programs on simple soil moisture monitoring methods, distribution of low-cost tensiometers, and development of irrigation scheduling guidelines tailored to Sokoto State's dominant vegetable crops. Keywords: irrigation scheduling, dry season vegetables, water management, Sokoto State, smallholder farmers