Water Footprint Assessment of Commercial Vegetable Production in Kebbi State Under Irrigated Conditions

Water footprint analysis provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the total water consumption associated with agricultural production systems, disaggregated into green (rainfall), blue (irrigation), and grey (pollution-related) water components. In North West Nigeria, the water footprint of irrigated vegetable production in Kebbi State has not been formally assessed, despite growing concerns about freshwater resource sustainability along the Sokoto-Rima river basin. This study determines the water footprint of commercial tomato, onion, and carrot production under irrigated conditions in Kebbi State using the global water footprint methodology developed by Hoekstra and Chapagain. Field-level water use data including irrigation volumes, rainfall interception, and leachate estimates were collected from 60 commercial farms over a full production season. Grey water footprint was estimated based on fertilizer and pesticide application rates and leaching factors. Results indicate that blue water footprint is highest for dry season onion (847 m3/tonne) and lowest for wet season tomato (312 m3/tonne). Grey water footprint was substantially elevated on farms with heavy synthetic fertilizer application. The study recommends adoption of drip irrigation and precision fertilization to reduce the water footprint of vegetable production in Kebbi State and preserve the long-term viability of the Sokoto-Rima irrigation system. Keywords: water footprint, irrigated vegetables, Kebbi State, water resource management, commercial farming