In line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to addressing food security in Nigeria, the federal government, through the ministry of water resources and sanitation, has launched the 2023 “Dry Season Irrigated Farming Initiative,” through the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority.
The minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, made this announcement during his visit to the agency in Benin City on Wednesday.
He revealed that, as part of the ongoing assessment tour of agencies and projects under his ministry, he is taking action to fulfill the president’s directive to cultivate 500,000 hectares of irrigable land for increased food production in the nation.
Prof. Utsev called upon all the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) in the xountry to commence the 2023 dry season darming through irrigation and also urged states and xommunities to make lands available for agricultural purposes in support of this crucial initiative.
He unveiled the 2021/2022 hydrological year books and highlighted the importance of their roles in planning, designing, and constructing water resources projects and infrastructure. The minister further informed that the books will be beneficial to policy makers, researchers and other water resources stakeholders for infrastructural development and environmental sustainability.
Utsev also hinted that the newly inaugurated farm road during the familiarization tour will enhance connectivity between the government and the people by enabling the seamless transportation of both people and goods.
In his remarks, the managing director of the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Ahmed. O. Saliu, reported that the eiver basin has remained active and responsive to the communities in her catchment states through the provision of numerous projects, including dams, irrigation schemes, water schemes, irrigated farms (songhai model), youth training and empowerment programmes, as well as roads and rural infrastructure development.
He further disclosed that the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority is at the forefront of setting up a network of hydro- meteorological stations in all strategic locations within it’s catchment states. The minister stressed that the launched hydrological and meteorological yearbooks will serve consultants and all professionals who rely on hydro-met data.
Mrs. Mary Nwabuno Ononuju, the executive director of agricultural services of the river basin, emphasized its commitment to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda by embarking on dry season irrigated farming that will ensure more production and crop diversification.
She posited that the initiative signifies an essential step towards ensuring food security in Nigeria and demonstrates the dedication of the ministry to achieve this essential goal.
The highlight of the flag-off ceremony included the planting of seedlings by the minister and the managing director of Binin Owena River Basin Development Authority, as well as the director o river basin operations and inspectorate, Mr AJ Ochigbo, and the Enogie of Oghobaghase, Ileruwa Akenzua.
