Water is an integral part of living things’ lives and a basic need for life, so life might be terminated if human beings don’t drink water for a few days; it is a universal solvent and abundant in nature. Likewise, water is the lifeblood of plants. Without an adequate and consistent water supply, plants would struggle to survive and thrive, ultimately affecting ecosystems and agriculture worldwide. In the absence of water, plants die, leading to a great loss to farmers and the looming danger of a food shortage in the community at large.

The importance of water to plants necessitates availability of food

• Water dissolves minerals and nutrients in the soil, making them available for plant uptake. These dissolved nutrients are transported to different parts of the plant through the water stream
• Water helps in the production of defensive compounds against pests and diseases, and hydrated cells are less vulnerable  to damage
• Water dissolves minerals and nutrients in the soil, making them available for plant uptake
• Water plays a crucial role in regulating a plant’s temperature
• provides structural support to the plant, helping it to stand upright
• Water is a critical component of photosynthesis, the process through which plants convert sunlight into energy, which is essential for growth and development.

Availability of food on and off-season

Food availability refers to the presence and accessibility of an adequate food supply in a specific area or region. It encompasses the quantity and variety of food products accessible to individuals and communities within a given location. Agricultural production, distribution systems, food storage, transportation, and economic conditions can influence food availability. It is a crucial aspect of food security, as it directly impacts people’s ability to obtain the food they need for a healthy and balanced diet. Food availability can vary depending on whether it’s the on-season or off-season for specific crops or products. Here’s a brief explanation of both for better understanding:

• On-season refers to the time of the year when a particular food item is abundant and readily available. This usually corresponds to that specific crop’s natural growing or harvesting period. Because of a higher supply, you can expect fresher, more affordable, locally sourced produce during the off-season. The availability of seasonal foods often leads to a diverse and varied diet as people consume what is readily available and at its peak in terms of flavor and nutrition.
• Off-season refers to when certain foods are not naturally grown or harvested in a particular region due to climate limitations or other factors. During the off-season, these foods might be scarce, more expensive, or have traveled longer distances to reach consumers, leading to potential quality and cost issues.

To maintain a consistent food supply throughout the year, some regions rely on food preservation methods like canning, freezing, or importing products from areas where they are in season.

Additionally, advancements in agriculture and technology, such as irrigation, greenhouse farming, and controlled environment agriculture, have allowed some foods to be available year-round. However, this often comes with environmental and economic trade-offs. The emphasis would be on irrigation in this article.

What is Irrigation?

Irrigation refers to the artificial water supply to crops needed for growth and functionality without rainfall. Once water is available to aid plant growth, it consequently improves crop yield. Irrigation makes it possible to grow some crops throughout the year, which is ordinarily impossible under rainfed agriculture. This makes it possible for a country or region to be self-sufficient in food production.

Alongside water, fertilizer inputs can also be proportionately supplied to crops, thereby saving time and labor. This process is known as “Fertigation”.

Developing countries like Nigeria need irrigation, which goes a long way toward helping the country attain self-sufficiency. If farmers stop practicing rainfed agriculture and can grow crops throughout the year, harvests will increase, and the supply will exceed the demand. This way, food prices will fall, and more crops will be stored or passed down along the agricultural value chain for processing.

Unfortunately, the cost of setting it up greatly limits the adoption of irrigation. A large number of farmers lack access to funds that can be used to finance this system, which has proven to be profitable over time. However, some improvisations have been made to cut costs.

Advantages of Irrigation

• Increased Crop Yield: One of the primary advantages of irrigation is the significant increase in crop yields. By providing a consistent and controlled water supply to crops, farmers can optimize their growth and ensure a steady food supply, even in regions with erratic rainfall patterns.
• Improved Crop Quality: Irrigation allows for the precise delivery of water and nutrients to crops. This control can result in better crop quality, larger fruits, and healthier plants, which fetch higher market prices.
• Year-Round Farming: With irrigation, farmers are not reliant solely on seasonal rains. They can cultivate crops throughout the year, leading to multiple harvests and a more diverse range of crops.
• Mitigation of Drought Effects: In regions prone to drought, irrigation systems can act as the only way out for farmers. They provide a solution to the adverse effects of dry spells and help maintain agricultural productivity.
• Crop Diversification: Irrigation enables farmers to experiment with various crops unsuited to the natural climate. This diversification can enhance food security and income opportunities.
• Control of Salinity: In arid regions, excessive salinity in the soil can be a problem. Irrigation practices can help leach out salts from the soil, making it more suitable for agriculture.
• Environmental Conservation: Modern irrigation techniques such as drip and sprinkler systems are more water-efficient, reducing water waste. This contributes to water resource conservation and minimizes agriculture’s ecological impact.

Types of Irrigation Systems

Manual Irrigation: Manual methods such as bucket irrigation or hose watering are still used in many small-scale farming operations. While labor-intensive, they can be effective for smaller plots.

Drip Irrigation: Drip systems deliver water directly to the root zone of plants through a network of pipes, tubes, and emitters. It’s highly efficient and conserves water.

Sprinkler Irrigation: Sprinklers spray water over the crops like natural rainfall. This method is suitable for various crops and can be automated.

Subsurface Irrigation: Water is applied directly to the root zone below the soil surface. This method reduces water evaporation and minimizes weed growth.

Center Pivot Irrigation: Commonly used in large-scale agriculture, center pivot systems consist of rotating sprinklers mounted on wheeled towers, covering a circular field area.

Furrow Irrigation: In this method, small channels or furrows are created between crop rows, and water can flow down these furrows to irrigate the plants.

Affordable Irrigation System

Surface Irrigation is the most traditional method, where water flows over the soil surface and is distributed by gravity. It includes techniques like furrow, basin, and flood irrigation. It is a highly flexible and easily managed irrigation method. Since it is widely utilized, local irrigators generally need more understanding of operating and maintaining the system.

Surface systems are often more acceptable to agriculturalists who appreciate the effects of water shortages on crop yields since it appears easier to apply the depths required to refill the root zone. This system can be developed at the farm level with minimal capital investment. The control and regulation structures are simple, durable, and easily constructed with inexpensive and readily available materials like wood, concrete, brick, mortar, etc.

Energy requirements for surface irrigation systems come from gravity. This is a significant advantage in today’s economy, which uses negligible energy. They are less affected by climatic and water quality characteristics. Hence, Surface systems can better utilize available water supplies because they are less frequent, more uncertain, and more variable in rate and duration.

In conclusion, irrigation is a critical component of modern agriculture that cannot be underemphasized or overlooked. It provides numerous advantages, such as increased crop yield, improved quality, and enhanced food security and availability. The choice of irrigation method depends on factors like availability of capital, farm size, climate, soil type, and crop variety, and innovations in irrigation technology continue to drive increased efficiency and sustainability in agriculture for food availability and stability in on- and off-season crops to meet food and health satisfaction of the people.

There is a need to be intentional when delving into Agriculture, and that is why we are readily available at your service to provide the necessary consultation and information for a productive agricultural practice. Many people have run into debt and errors because of their enthusiasm for agriculture but lack the necessary knowledge and information. Contact Green Development and Agro Allied Services on 07039290924 or info@greendevelopment.org.ng. Green Development and Agro Allied Services, your best plug for AGRIBUSINESS SUCCESS…..