4,000 farmers to benefit from N200m irrigation project in Kano

About 4,000 rice and wheat farmers are to benefit from an irrigation project designed to enhance mass production of staple crops in Bagwai Local Government area of Kano State.

The project, anchored by Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP), in collaboration with Sasakawa SG 2000, is worth about N200 million.

Speaking with journalists on the project, the state Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, said a preliminary technical assessment of the project situated about 100 km north-east of Kano is being conducted by a team of engineers and surveyors.

He added that consultancy for the design and supervision of the work, as well as development of additional land for irrigation had been advertised in the dailies.

According to him, “the project will invest in the rehabilitation of the Watari canal and drainages, including the night reservoir to mitigate gully erosion that is threatening the dam embankment.

More than 150 hectares of land damaged within the vicinity of the land will be reclaimed. Barring any eventuality, this work will start by October, this year.

“Also, 1000 hectares of land downstream will be developed, using gravity for irrigation for about 4,000 new farmers for rice, wheat and vegetable production. The project will also fund the rehabilitation of other irrigation facilities and the development of new irrigation schemes within the state, even as we will support smallholder farmers to access equipment for land preparation, harvest and post-harvest operations.”