By YANGE IKYAA
The minister of water resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, has emphasized that what is expected of River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) is to ensure that farmers and their associations take their new responsibilities with steady grip, keeping the canals, drains, roads, culverts, and all the other structures handed over to them in top working condition at all times.
Adamu stated this at the weekend in Jigawa State on the occasion of handing over of four sectors of irrigation facilities to the farmers after rehabilitation at Yemidi Sector of Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme, in Auyo Local Government Area of the State.
He said proper maintenance of the multimillion-naira irrigation infrastructure will justify the expenditure of time and other enormous resources being spent to empower farmers and their associations, as well as RBDA staffers.
The four newly completed irrigation facility sectors handed over to the farmers are Arbunau Hausa -(129ha), Auyakayi -(417ha), Akubushin -(938.6ha) and Yamdi -(453ha), covering a total area of 1,937.6 hectares.
In his handing over speech, the minister noted that Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme (HVIS) is one of the five existing irrigation schemes being rehabilitated and expanded, where possible, by the ministry, under the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria Project (TRIMING). He also added that, so far, a total number of 12 sectors covering an area of 3,056 hectares have been completed and handed over to the farmers.
They include Gansarka (155ha), Ayama (171 ha), Zumoni (359 ha), Meshewa (146 ha), Adaha (292 ha), Marina (313ha), Mado (184 ha), Auyo (305 ha), Aguza (315 ha), Furawa (573.8 ha), Tsakar (114 ha) and Arbunau Hausa (129 ha).
Engr. Adamu pointed out that the ministry, through the TRIMING PROJECT, has trained farmers and farmer associations, including River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) staffers, on effective operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes, as well as on modern agricultural best practices.
He further advised them to identify all works needed for routine maintenance, repairs and minor rehabilitation of the irrigation and drainage systems now under their care.
The minister also requested all parties involved with the transformation course to exert maximum effort to support the process and ensure that, in the end, success would be guaranteed.
The governor of Jigawa State, Alh. Muhamadu Badaru Abubakar, thanked the Federal Government for her commitment towards lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty, adding that the government of Jigawa State was also making effort to emulate the Federal Government and put into the best use all facilities being provided as a way of achieving economic growth of farmers in his state.
He promised that the irrigation structures would be protected and maintained in the good condition in which it was handed over to the farmers in the state.
In his good will message, the Emir of Hadejia, Alhaji Abubakar Maje, thanked God for the eventual completion and handing over of the irrigation facilities to the farmers, irrespective of the many years of abandonment, and prayed that it will be a good source of gainful employment and sustenance to the farmers, their associations and members of their families.
On his part, the chairman of Water Users Association of Nigeria (WUWA), Alhaji Garba Suileman Shayi, thanked the minister for extensive effort and financial support towards achieving the rehabilitation of the scheme. He also stated that concretizing the waterways and continuous release of irrigation water would ensure bumper harvests, increase income, food security, and provision of employment to the youths of the state.
The WUWA chairman charged farmers and other other stakeholders to maximize the opportunities provided through the irrigation projects.
In his remarks, the managing director of Hadejia-Jamare River Basin Development Authority, Kano, Alhaji Maamun Dau Aliyu, acknowledged that a total of 2865 hectares have been successfully handed to farmers through the Transformation Irrigation Management of Nigeria (TRIMING) Project, a brain child of the federal ministry of water resources.
He stated that the project has achieved tremendous success not only in the physical rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure but also in providing technical support and building the capacity of water users association.
The MD urged farmers and other members of WAWU to make judicious use of the facilities provided to guarantee sustainability.
