FG flags off Bakolori irrigation scheme
The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has flagged off the rehabilitation of 8,000 hectares and conversion/expansion of 5,560 hectares works of Bakolori irrigation scheme under the World Bank assisted Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Flagging off the project in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, the Ag. President […]
The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has flagged off the rehabilitation of 8,000 hectares and conversion/expansion of 5,560 hectares works of Bakolori irrigation scheme under the World Bank assisted Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Flagging off the project in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, the Ag. President represented by the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, said that the World Bank was investing a total sum of about $495 million through the TRIMING project to improve irrigation potential of the country.
He said that five basins including Dadin Kowa in Gombe, Hadejia Valley in Jigawa, Kano River in Kano, Middle Rima in Sokoto and Bakolori in Zamfara were selected for the pilot phase.
He added that government hoped to replicate the scheme all over the country to boost the agricultural policy of the present government.
TRIMING is converting the sprinkler component covering 5, 500 hectares and rehabilitation of gravity component covering 8,000 hectares that will provide a potential of about 13,500 hectares.
This will improve large scale public irrigation in Northern Nigeria where it will make a contribution to agricultural production, growth and rural poverty reduction.
Speaking at the occasion, the National Project Coordinator of TRIMING, Engr. Peter Manjuk, said the Project was an intervention programme of the World Bank to transform the irrigation production in dry season farming in Nigeria.
He said the project had a 7-year life span to improve on the nation’s dams, integrate water resources management, develop the nation’s irrigation facilities and develop the entire agricultural facilities of the country.