PROFESSOR UTSAV FLAGS OFF DRY SEASON IRRIGATION FARMING 09-11-23
By Sadiq Aminu The Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has inaugurated 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, stated this when he visited the River Basin Development Authority in Benin City on Wednesday.
In a statement, Prof Utsev said the Ministry is placing priority on fulfilling President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to cultivate 500,000 hectares of irrigable land for increased food production across the country.
Prof Utsev called on all the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) in the country to commence the 2023 dry season farming through irrigation and also urged states and communities to make lands available for agricultural purposes in support of this crucial initiative.
The Minister also unveiled the 2021–2022 Hydrological Year Books and highlighted the importance of their roles in planning, designing, and constructing water resources projects and infrastructure, stating that the books will be beneficial to Water Resources Stakeholders for infrastructural development and environmental sustainability.
On his part, Ahmed Saliu, the Managing Director of the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority, told the Minister that the River 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 explained that the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority would soon set up a network of hydro-meteorological stations in all strategic locations within the catchment states of the River Basin.
Mary Nwabuno Ononuju, the Executive Director of Agricultural Services of the River Basin, emphasized the Authority’s commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s food security agenda by embarking on dry-season irrigated farming that will ensure more production and crop diversification.