The water footprint of dry onion production in Nigeria

Abstract

This study estimates the blue, green, and grey water footprints of dry onion production from the Nigerian perspective. The national average water footprint of dry onion production was 2475.7 cubic metres per tonne (m3/t), out of which 0.77% was green, 97.16% blue, and 2.07% grey. Dry onion production in Katsina State used the lowest amount of water (1807.3 m3/t) compared with Kano State that used the highest (2800.6 m3/t). Annually, dry onion production in Nigeria consumes 3.36 × 109 and pollutes 0.07 × 109 m3 of freshwater. The average annual water footprint (including the pollution component) related to dry onion export to other countries is 0.22 million m3/year. This study provides important information for policy makers and planners, farmers, water managers, food industries, stakeholders in the onion markets, and researchers.

Keywords

• Dry onion production
• Blue water
• Green water
• Grey water
• Water footprint
• Nigeria