By Jutha Gupah, Damaturu
The Yobe State Government is to empower and engage farmers in an
irrigation scheme of 900 hectres of fadama land along the Yobe/Kumadugu River Basin in the state.
Announcing the scheme on Tuesday in Damaturu at a news conference, the Commissioner for Agriculture; Alhaji Mustapha Gajirema said the farmers are drawn from two farming communities of Nguru and Muguram, before the end of this year.
“Already work on the massive construction of irrigation channels from Lake Nguru, has been completed with earth moving machinery and dredgers,” said Gajirema.
He said that an Irrigation Task Force has been inaugurated by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam to implement all-year round farming activities in the state.
He said that the water channels are to supply free flow of irrigation
waters from Lake Nguru to farmlands and orchards.
His words: “The project designed, was to make farming an all year
round activity where farmers will be alternating off from wet season
farming to irrigation and vice versa.”
According to him, this will boost the state’s economy that could
guarantee food security and stable market prices of crops and
vegetables.
He further disclosed that; “The 35-hectares rice irrigation trail
project in Muguram village and the maize farm in Jumbam village
recorded bumper harvests. This led to fall in commodity prices by
20-30 per cent this month.”
He said farmers would cultivate wheat from November to March, while rice would be cultivated between April and October of every year.
“The state government has 500 hectares of arable lands in Nguru and
400 hectres in Muguram for gradual expansion of the irrigation scheme under the Gaidam administration.
He assured that government would support wet season and irrigation
farmers with inputs to promote agricultural production in the state.
He however warned farmers against selling their crops and vegetables
during the harvesting periods.
“We must resist temptations of extravagance, you are encouraged to
preserve your harvests,” counseled the commissioner, adding that
government guarantee market prices for their crops.
“Government will buy the products for the Strategic Grains Reserve
programme to be sold out to the public at a subsidised rate during
periods of need,” he assured.
