The Government of Nigeria, assisted by the United Nations Development Programme and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations are engaged in a project whose main purpose is to assist the Government “in the comprehensive development of man-made lake resources through research and surveys, the results of which will be made available to all regions of Nigeria”.
The project became operational on 12 August 1968 and, as part of the project operation, FAO assigned Dr. W. Siderius, a Consultant, from September to November 1973 with the following terms of reference:
“Using available soil survey data and Information on irrigation trials, together with such additional reconnaissance or detailed survey as may be necessary and practical within the period of the mission, to undertake soil mapping of the lake draw-down area and of the irrigated trial plots established by the project.
To advise the Project Manager and staff concerned with irrigation development on the suitability of soils in the area for irrigated agriculture.”
The Kainji Lake Research Project embraces research activities originating from the impoundment of the lake, which covered in the first instance mainly the limnological and fish-biological aspects.
Agricultural development of the shore-line belt and associated areas was started during the latter half of the project and concentrated in two areas - Papiri and Gafara.
Main emphasis for the soil and land survey (Sept/Nov. 1973) of the total shore-line area was put on the lower parts of the draw-down area1 which are subject to inundation for a prolonged time during the year.
To provide a basis for the soil and land evaluation a total of 48 soil samples was taken from the draw-down area while an additional 22 samples were collected from adjacent upland areas 2 Much use was made of previous soil and land classification studies in the Kainji Lake area, which were however carried out prior to the impoundment of the lake. As no up-to-date cartographic material is available relative to the exact position of the shoreline during the various water levels, the 465 feet contour is used as reference level on the maps herein.
This report deals specifically with soil and land characteristics and properties. Not all the verbal advice conveyed to the project staff and government officials concerning land development and related problems is reported in the text.
2All samples were analysed in Nigeria during the time of the mission.
