Kano Earmarks N200m to Revive Watari Dam Irrigation Scheme
POLITICS DIGEST – As part of its measures to mitigate the risk of COVID 19 on food security, the Kano state government said it has earmarked N199,584, 000 for the repair of Watari Dam and irrigation scheme, in Bagwai local government area of the state.
The program, to be executed by the Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) has already reserved additional land for irrigation.
The state project coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad announced this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to him, the project will invest in the rehabilitation of the dam canal and drainages, including the night reservoir to mitigate the gully erosion threatening it.
He said, “More than 150 hectares of land damaged within the vicinity of the land will be reclaimed. Barring any eventuality, this work will start by October, this year.
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“Also, 1000 hectares of land downstream will be developed, using gravity for irrigation for about 4,000 new farmers for rice, wheat and vegetable production.
“The project will also fund the rehabilitation of other irrigation facilities or the development of new irrigation schemes within the state, even as we will support smallholder farmers to access equipment for land preparation, harvest and post-harvest operations.
“We also realized that while the state is making effort to boost Rice production in Fadama, the utilization of rice straw is still minimal with most producers burning them to prepare the land for dry season farming.
He added that the project, through Sasakawa SG 2000 services, will impact on thousands of rice and maize farmers selected from various local government areas, providing them with trainings, inputs warehousing and marketing services.
The project is expected to commence as soon as clearance is obtained from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
