The practical challenges of achieving sustainable wetland agriculture in Nigeria’s Cross River basin

The practical challenges of achieving sustainable wetland agriculture in Nigeria are examined. Three wetland communities were studied with observations, meetings, focus groups, interviews, a workshop and a review of the literature. We find that the available wetlands are greatly under-utilized due to meteorological and climate-related challenges, poor human capacities, absence of science–policy collaboration, complex land tenure regimes and a lack of supportive infrastructure. Climate change impact manifests in either excessive seasonal flooding or prolonged drought, with consequences for livelihoods. Improving the utilization and productivity of the wetlands will require strong public policies, appropriate investment, human capacity building, science–policy–society cooperation and supportive infrastructure.