The NIIP is one of the largest Native American owned and operated agricultural businesses in the United States.
This venture finds its origins in the 1930s when the federal government was looking for economic development for the Navajo Nation.
The project service area is composed of the high benchlands south of Farmington, which experience an arid climate.
[1] Originally designed to provide jobs for Native American family farms the project has transformed into a large corporate entity.
[1] The project is entitled to 508,000 acre-feet (0.627 km3) of San Juan River water each year.