Jigawa Governor, Alhaji Umar Namadi has made a passionate appeal to the Federal government to assist by completing the Hadejia Valley Irrigation Project, saying it has a potential irrigable area of over 25,000 hectares and a capacity to significantly deliver Food Security in the country.
This is just as the minister of Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari, said that “the dry season farming offers us a unique opportunity to harness the untapped potential of our land and diversify Nigeria’s food production capabilities”.
Namadi made the appeal on Saturday, during the flag-off ceremony of the 2023/2024 dry season farming in Kadume Hadejia local government area on Saturday.
According to him the Hadejia Valley Project, which was initiated by the late Shagari Administration in the early 80s, is still less than 25 per cent completed.
He said; “Following a flag-off of the project performed in 2018, it is noteworthy that earlier this year, former President Muhammad Buhari commissioned the successful completion of a segment of the Project covering about 6,000 hectares.”
He however noted that ” There is no doubt that has significantly contributed to our quest for food security, job creation, and economic diversification. Despite this significant stride, however, there is still a long way to go considering the Project’s potential,” he stated.
Namadi added that the Tinubu Administration will make history by completing the project 100 per cent.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari, disclosed that the launching of the 2023 Dry season farming initiative would help in meeting the demands of the country’s
growing population while also bolstering the economy.
According to him, “The dry season farming offers us a unique opportunity to harness the untapped potential of our land and diversify Nigeria’s food production capabilities.”
“The dry season farming is an integral part of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and AgroPocket (NAGS-AP) Project, made possible by a $134m loan facility advanced to Nigeria by the African Development Bank(AfDB)”.
He noted that Tinubu’s administration has resolved to expand the capacity of our farmers to engage in the cultivation of key staples like rice, maize, cassava, and wheat, across the country.
The aim is to increase crop yield by at least 20% compared to the previous year adding that the high-value staples will be joined by others like soybeans and sorghum in the wet season.
“In this regard, we have set ambitious targets. In wheat alone, we aim to support between 150,000 to 250,000 farmers with a 50% input subsidy to cultivate between 200,000 to 250,000 hectares and an expected yield of 1,250,000 tonnes of wheat.
“Other selected staples are earmarked for similar, varied support, all aimed at significantly reducing food inflation, as well as Nigeria’s dependence on import while increasing domestic consumption,” he added.
. TheWitness
