The effectiveness of small-scale irrigated agriculture in the reclamation of mine land soils on the Jos Plateau of Nigeria

Following a series of trials, the Mines Land Reclamation Unit, which was given the remit to undertake reclamation of opencast tin workings on the Jos Plateau, declared that it was not feasible to reclaim soil affected by mining activity for arable agriculture. This study examines how small scale farmers have ignored this advice and, using the valuable water resources formed by flooded mining paddocks, have successfully reclaimed areas of mine soils for intensive, irrigated, arable agriculture. Although this activity has been going on for at least 50 years, it was not until the introduction of small petrol or diesel pumps in the last 15 years that a significant expansion in farming activity occurred in the mined areas. Reclamation is achieved by contouring the land as necessary, removing stones and constructing irrigation basins. The key problem facing the farmers, however, is how to improve the chemical status of the nutrient-deficient, acid soils of the mined area. Faced with restricted access to standard inorganic fertilisers, the farmers have developed a complex manuring strategy which involves the use of a combination of traditional organic manures, any available inorganic fertilisers and the use of town refuse ash. By this means, they have raised significantly both the level of the major nutrients and the soil pH to a point where the sustained cultivation of in excess of 20 crops is possible. That this can be achieved within a period of less than 12 months raises major questions about institutional reclamation policies.