Operational Management of Irrigation Schemes on Commercial Farms in Kano State

Irrigation is a critical enabler of year-round agricultural production in Kano State, in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone, where seasonal water availability constrains cropping calendars. Commercial farms with irrigation infrastructure require systematic operational management to ensure efficient water use, infrastructure maintenance, and productive crop scheduling. This study assesses the operational management of irrigation schemes on commercial farms in Kano State, focusing on water scheduling, maintenance practices, operator competence, and cost recovery. A purposive sample of 35 commercial farms operating canal, borehole, or dam-fed irrigation schemes was selected from Kano, Bunkure, and Rano local government areas. Data on irrigation management planning, infrastructure condition, water application methods, maintenance budgets, and seasonal water productivity were collected through structured interviews and farm walk assessments. Descriptive analysis was complemented by water use efficiency benchmarking. Results show that only 40 percent of sampled farms operate written irrigation schedules, while the majority rely on experience-based timing decisions. Infrastructure maintenance was deferred on 65 percent of farms due to budget constraints, resulting in measurable conveyance losses averaging 28 percent of diverted water volumes. Water productivity on farms using drip irrigation was three times higher than on those using surface furrow methods. Operator technical training was absent on most farms. The study recommends formalised irrigation operation and maintenance planning for commercial farms and government provision of subsidised drip equipment for high-value vegetable production in Kano State. Keywords: irrigation management, commercial farms, Kano State, water use efficiency, operational planning