On Wednesday, the Kano River Irrigation Scheme farmers received 12 restored irrigation systems from the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
The Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) Project, which is backed by the World Bank, provided finance for the 7,521 hectare project, which was carried out under the Hadejia Jama'are River Basin Development Authority.
Suleiman Adamu, the minister of water resources, stated at the occasion that the Kano River Irrigation Scheme (KRIS) was one of five existing irrigation schemes that the current administration was renovating and expanding.
According to the ministry, 25 sectors totaling 7,521 hectares have been finished and given to farmers thus far.
He said in line with the principles of the TRIMING Project, Water Users Associations were supported with workers managing the sectoral offices, towards achieving proper operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems.
This, he noted, was with the intention of also empowering farming communities around all TRIMING Project Irrigation Schemes.
Adamu said consultative meetings were held severally in all TRIMING schemes to deliberate on guidelines on Irrigation Service Fee collection, in line with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.
He said some successes had been recorded on this task, saying this would be replicated in all public irrigation schemes nationwide.
He however urged the River Basin Development Authorities to ensure that farmers and their associations managed the canals, drains, roads culverts and other infrastructure effectively.
“The contribution of Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority’s management towards the performance of the management transfer process, which is from Government controlled to farmer managed is impressive.
“This will guide future decision of Government in involvement of other RBDAs in transferring the management of irrigation systems from Government owned and controlled, to farmer managed system.’’
Earlier, Managing Director, Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Maamun Aliyu, said the significance of irrigation farming system as a viable Project was laudable.
He said the handing over was an opportunity for farmers to contribute their quota towards all-year farming and socio-economic development of the country.
The National Project Coordinator, TRIMING Project, Peter Manjuk, said it was an ambitious intervention of the Federal Government to provide facilities for dry season farming of about 37,000 hectres in five schemes.
Earlier, Managing Director, Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Maamun Aliyu, said the significance of irrigation farming system as a viable Project was laudable.
He said the handing over was an opportunity for farmers to contribute their quota towards all-year farming and socio-economic development of the country.
The National Project Coordinator, TRIMING Project, Peter Manjuk, said it was an ambitious intervention of the Federal Government to provide facilities for dry season farming of about 37,000 hectres in five schemes.