A cross section of farmers in Kebbi State on Wednesday commended the efforts of the Federal Government for the completion and installation of the Centre for Pivot Irrigation System that would boost agriculture yield in the state.
They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources’ visit to project sites in preparatory to the before handing over of the project to the river basins.
According to them, these efforts will go a long way to reduce the several hours spent in search of water for farming sustainably and improve productivity for food security.
Aliyu Takalafiya, a farmer in Gante Community, Bagudo Local Government Area, noted that prior to installation of the pivot irrigation system, dry season farming was non-existent, and that the availability of water through drip irrigation was difficult and time consuming.
Takalafia said that prior belief that Rice farming does not survive in sprinkler irrigation system, but noted that with the available variety of upland rice, which is usually shallow-rooted, it would bring high yield with the centre pivot irrigation system.
The farmer said the intervention has brought employment creation, with more persons involved in agricultural development, adding that the community members have become self-reliant.
“We plant guinea corn, millet, maize , but with this irrigation in place, rice cultivation would be further improved,”he said.
Musa Maigante, another farmer, said the intervention would assist in transitioning from subsistence to commercial, saying that the private sector stakeholders were vital to attaining Federal Government’s efforts at food security.
He identified poor quality inputs and low technology adoption among farmers as hindering rice production in the country.
Maigante added that it would encourage the youths to take to farming and also expose them to mechanised farming.
He said the present administration had successfully revived the agricultural sector, noting that through the introduction of the irrigation system, poverty would be reduced and promote sustainable jobs and economic development.
Earlier, the team which visited the Bakolori Irrigation Scheme in Zamfara, expressed hope that with commitment and trained manpower, agricultural transformation and sustainability plans would be achieved.
The Programme Manager of the scheme, Alhaji Abubakar DanGaladima, noted that the project would be functional and effective, saying that the river basin authority would train its staff on operation and maintenance for efficiency.
“We have farmers, we have the land, our farmers are ready. they want to use irrigation system in farming, the project is new to them, I believe with time, they will get use to it.
” There are particular crops like rice that would be cultivated here, it needs flood water always and this system provides moisture to that effect, ” he said.
He commended the personnel that have shown commitment and zeal to take up this project towards agricultural transformation and food security.
