Abstract:
The study assessed the effect of rainfall during dry season irrigation by the vegetable farmers of Jibia LGA of Katsina State, Nigeria. The study sought to investigate the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents, different types of irrigation offered by the vegetables farmers and the challenges faced during rainy season in their areas. A multistage sampling technique was used to arrive at sample size of 164 vegetable farmers as a result of administered structured questionnaire to the respondents through in-depth interview and personal observation. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The result of the study shows that majority of the respondents were male (88%), married (72%) and practices vegetable irrigation farming. The dominant vegetable crops grown were onion, tomatoes, cabbage, spinach and okra. The study identified in adequate capital, storage facilities and attacks by pests and diseases, erosion, flooding and banditry were the major constraints affecting the farming practices and the study recommended that government, Non-governmental organization, community leaders and agricultural extension workers should intervene, offered modern way of improving vegetable farming and provide solutions tackling those challenges in the study area.
Key words: Effect, Rainfall, Vegetable Farmers, Dry Season Irrigation Farming.