The downstream floodplain farmers required large-scale water release before the growing season, with diminished flows later as they practiced flood recession agriculture.

The dam operators were not sensitive to this need, releasing insufficient water at inappropriate times.

The dam significantly decreased peak flows and the depth, duration and extent of flooding downstream during the wet season.

It also reduced the total amount of water available for farming, since a large sheet of water in a hot and arid area loses much to evaporation.

In the downstream areas, of a total of 19,000 hectares of floodplain land, the dam resulted in loss of 7,000 hectares of rice production and 5,000 hectares of dry season crops.
This loss was partially offset by increases in lower-value millet and sorghum production, but 12,000 people were forced to move.

The loss of agricultural output has been valued at US$7 million annually.
The downstream floodplain farmers required large-scale water release before the growing season, with diminished flows later as they practiced flood recession agriculture.
The dam operators were not sensitive to this need, releasing insufficient water at inappropriate times.
The dam significantly decreased peak flows and the depth, duration and extent of flooding downstream during the wet season.
It also reduced the total amount of water available for farming, since a large sheet of water in a hot and arid area loses much to evaporation.
In the downstream areas, of a total of 19,000 hectares of floodplain land, the dam resulted in loss of 7,000 hectares of rice production and 5,000 hectares of dry season crops. This loss was partially offset by increases in lower-value millet and sorghum production, but 12,000 people were forced to move.
The loss of agricultural output has been valued at US$7 million annually.
Bakolori Dam