The Federal Government has concluded plans to invest 100 million dollars to boost irrigation farming in Kano State.
The Director of Planning and Design, Hadejia/Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), Muhammad Kura, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kano.
According to him, the plan is part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts to boost the agriculture sector in the country.
“The Federal Government has concluded all the necessary arrangements to invest over 500 million dollars in the irrigation farming across the country.
“The fund which is a collaboration between the Federal Government and the World Bank, Kano State alone will benefit with 100 million dollars,” he said.
Kura called on the irrigation farmers’ groups across the state to complement the Federal Government’s efforts through proper coordination among themselves.
The director said, “Lack of coordination among the farmers’ groups is a challenge toward the progress in irrigation farming in Kano.
“It is only when the irrigation farmers groups organise themselves and support the government’s efforts that the aim of the plans would be achieved,” he said.
He, therefore, called on the farmers to inculcate the habit of clearing the irrigation water channels to enable the smoothness of the water distribution in their areas.
According to him, the frequent complain by the farmers over inadequate supply of the water to their areas, was due to their negligence to clear the water passage.
Kura warned farmers, who are not on the Government’s water distribution network, against illegal diversion of the water, saying necessary actions would be taken against them.
“If such farmers want to benefit from the water channels, they should go to the relevant authorities to seek their consent and approval,” Kura said.
