Role of Institutions in Watershed Management in Anambra State

Abstract:

The study investigated the role of community (traditional) and government-bases institutions in watershed management in Anambra State of Nigeria. Data were collected from 92 respondents who were selected and interviewed using both interview schedule and questionnaires. The data collected were presented using percentages and means. The results indicated that for the community based institutions, it is the adult males that manage the watersheds and this role has not changed, whereas the government-based institutions manage and regenerate the watersheds. The result also indicated that the effective management activities in Anambra State watersheds embraced defecation, prohibition of excess wood logging and dumping of refuse with mean of score and above. The result also showed that for the both institutions, gaps were noticed in watershed management in the state. It equally revealed that between the community-based and government-based institutions, there is little or no links and respectively) and that inter-ministerial linkages and interdisciplinary linkages with communities for quarterly meeting is the needed link between those institutions. It further revealed that enacting laws was considered the most needed role in watershed management; while Anambra state Agricultural Development Project was identified as the needed new institution for watershed management. This suggest the need for extension organization to organize training for its staff in the aspect of watershed and teach them verified techniques that involves best Agricultural Management practices which should be taught to farmers who farm within the watersheds and to coordinate the role among all the institution agencies and ministries that are stakeholders in watershed management.