President Muhammadu Buhari, has commissioned the rehabilitated and expanded Hadeija Valley Irrigation Scheme (HVIS), in Auyo, Jigawa State.
It would be recalled that the Irrigation Scheme was flagged -off in 2018 by Buhari and the rehabilitation and expansion work on the project was completed last year and subsequently handed over to the farmers to own and manage.
The irrigation scheme, which has a total of 5,780 hectares of land, is expected to provide water to the residents, Hadeija Farmers Association and Water Users Association (WUA), whose main source of water for their all year-round farming season comes from the Irrigation Scheme.
The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Water Resources carried out the rehabilitation and expanded Hadeija Valley Irrigation Scheme supported by the World Bank under the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project over a period of three years.
It is one project that will in no doubt alleviate the sufferings of the entire farmers in Hadeija as well as increase their economic fortunes.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Buhari, explained that the Federal Government’s quest for economic diversification and survival lies in increased food production, including dry season farming.
He said: “A sound and sustainable irrigated agriculture will create more jobs and wealth.
“It will usher in sustainable economic prosperity because we will produce what we consume as a nation and generate foreign exchange by exporting any surplus.
“Among the reasons we will continue to support this option, therefore, is that irrigated agriculture will provide all-year-round socio – economic and food production activities, thereby facilitating sustainable economic prosperity.
“Acknowledging the worthy collaboration of the Federal Government with World Bank through the TRIMING project in Nigeria, it is worthy of note that it has brought great benefits to the country with the completion of several Irrigation Schemes such as the 25, 000 hectares Kano River Irrigation Scheme in Kano State (KRIS), Bakolori Irrigation Scheme (BIS) in Zamfara State, and Hadeija Valley Irrigation Scheme in Jigawa State.”
In his welcome address, Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, reiterated that the Project was expected to achieve a significant increase in net incomes on the average household from N259, 000 to N833, 000 per annum (before irrigation costs) but when irrigation costs are deducted, the overall farm net income will equal to an average of N781, 000 per annum which is more than three times the average level of a typical farm in the area before the advent of the Scheme.
Adamu said the Commissioning was a clear demonstration of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources’ commitment towards the implementation of Mr. President’s agenda to transform Nigeria into a strong and virile economy in food sufficiency.
