Kano spends N4.8 billion to expand, repair dam reservoirs for dry season farming.
By Fanen Ihyongo, Kano
Kano state governor has began the expansion, repair and upgrade of the Watari Irrigation Project in Bagwai local government area of the state for more participation of farmers in dry season cultivation.
The Project Manager, Muhammad Tijjani Adam, on Monday said the expansion of the project has gulped N4.5 billion, as about 500 hectares of farmland will be activated.
N314 million is being expended for the repair of the damaged sections of sectors 1 and 2 reservoirs, which reporters visited on Monday.
Water is released from the Watari Dam to the reservoirs occupying a swath of about 917 active hecters of farmlands.
The reservoir 1 alone, when upgraded will provide 10 million cubic litres of water for distribution through canals, the project manager said.
Under the irrigation project review, new water canals have been constructed to supply the additional 500 hectares of farmlands that stretch 10 kilometers in various directions.
It was gathered during a visit to the reservoirs that no fewer than 25,000 farmers from Kano, Katsina and Kaduna states are benefitting from the Watari Irrigation Project.
The crops grown include onions, guinea corn, lettuce, rice and cucumber, which are doing well.
The Chairman of Watari Water Project Farmers Association, Ibrahim Sani, said the irrigation project has employed several women and youths who are engaged in all the processes, including land clearing, tilling, planting and transplanting, weeding and harvesting as well as movement of the farm produce to the market.
“This has reduced the migration of people from the area, especially the youth, to Kano city.
“What is needed now is for the State Government to support the farmers with seeds, fertilizers and tractors,” he said.
