Administration of Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority on Food Security: A Study of Bakolori Irrigation Project, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State

This paper examines the administration of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA) and its impact on food security, focusing on the Bakolori Irrigation Project in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State. The paper investigates how administrative frameworks, resource allocation, and operational strategies of SRRBDA impact agricultural productivity and food availability in a region characterized by climate variability, insecurity, and infrastructural deficits. Guided by Management Theory (Fayol) and Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, the paper employs a quantitative research approach with a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 376 registered farmers and agricultural officers across the Bakolori Irrigation Project area using some structured questionnaires. The sample size was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan (1970) Sample Size Determinant Table and selected through proportionate and stratified random sampling. Analysis was ran using SPSS version 27, and Linear regression analysis was used to test the hypothesis. The findings reveal that effective administration of SRRBDA, including timely maintenance of irrigation infrastructure, equitable water distribution, provision of agricultural inputs, and farmer training programmes, significantly enhances food security by improving crop yield, increasing farmer income, and ensuring year-round farming activities. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, bureaucratic bottlenecks, poor maintenance culture, and climate variability hinder the full potential of the Authority's interventions. The paper recommends strengthening administrative capacity, increasing budgetary allocation, adopting participatory management approaches, and implementing sustainable maintenance strategies to fully harness the potential of the Bakolori Irrigation Project for sustainable food security in Zamfara State.