Nigeria Gurara

The main objective of this soil survey was to identify different soil types in the Gurara River's project area, and to determine their distribution and characteristics. Identification and characterization of the soil properties is essential for intense agricultural projects such as this one. Certain soil characteristics may limit the variety of crops which may be cultivated, or influence decisions regarding agricultural management. The survey is also aimed to assess the layout of the planned agricultural plots, irrigation and drainage systems, and offer recommendations concerning cultivation and irrigation management.

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The current project, the agricultural development south of the Gurara River, in the Jere village's area, is a direct outcome of the building of a large dam on the Gurara River. The new dam has been designed in the framework of the Gurara Water Transfer Project as a multi-purpose dam to augment the supply of water to the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. The dam will allow the development of irrigated agricultural projects downstream. This project is established as a result of the new irrigation opportunities that derived from the new dam construction.

 

The dam and its impoundment will provide a storage volume of 700 million cubic meters. The dam capacity is sufficient to sustain future water requirements in the domestic, public and industrial sectors and will, in addition, provide a regulated discharge that can be used for electricity generation and irrigation during the dry season, taking full advantage of the reservoir's regulating capacity. These opportunities will enhance the social and economic benefits of the Gurara Water Transfer Project.

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Within this framework, the Gurara Reservoir will be connected to the Lower Usman Dam, to design and construct a project that will utilize part of the regulated flow for the irrigation of about 4,000 ha of agricultural land.