Abdulsalam Muhammad
19 November 2008
THE Kano River Irrigation Project have produced over 1.5 metric tonnes of food and cash crops valued at N44billion over the last nine years.
The Managing Director, Hadejia- Jama'are River Basin Development Authority, Alhaji Sanusi Imran Abdullahi told visiting Senators in Kano that the feat was sequel to successful development of over
1,320 hectres out of 7,000 hectres earmarked for the project.
Abdullahi revealed that the agency will harvest additional 84,000 metric tonnes of both food and cash crops upon completion of the remaining hectres, adding that such will translate to N2.5 billion in value.
He also stated that work on 7,000 hectares in Kano River Irrigation project phase 1 has recorded appreciable progress, while 1, 320 hectres developed have been handed over to farmers..
According to him, the Kano River Irrigation Project phase 1, played a significant role in poverty alleviation of the Federal Government, adding that the scheme is one of the largest in sub Saharan Africa.
The Managing Director stated that the success story of the Irrigation project is hinged on the unique water distribution network that operates on gravity, stressing that thousand of all season farmer down stream have been a success story.
He revealed that thousand of farmers along river course that spread across Kano, Jigawa, Yobe, Bauchi and Borno grow varieties of cash crop that gives millions of naira worth of output annually.
Abdullahi further explained that if release of excess water from the dam periodically should be carefully managed to avoid causing harm to settlements along the river cause.
He appealed to the legislators to inject more fund into the scheme to enable it meet its statutory objectives.
Leader of the team, and the Senate Majority Leader, Teslim Folarin expressed appreciation of the positive impact the dam has made on the lives of million of Nigeria, and assured that the Senate would assist the authority to improves its performances.
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