The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has provided 350,000 dollars in technical support for irrigation farming in Nigeria.
The fund comes under the Technical Cooperation Programme which member states enjoy through the sectors under FAO mandate.
The Country Representative of the FAO, Fred Kafeero, said this on Friday in Abuja when he paid a visit to the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu.
Kafeero said that the FAO made the money available following the request of the minister to increase and promote irrigation farming, especially in Niger State.
“Today, we want to talk a little about the technical cooperation programme which FAO is discussing with the ministry and we managed to set aside technical assistance worth $350,000.
“This is part of our technical assistance to the request made by the minister to increase and promote irrigation farming, especially in Niger State.
“We want to reiterate that we are available and will continue to interface with your officials on a regular basis to ensure that we are able to serve this country to attain food security.
“And, also to ensure that we can get economic growth out of the work that we do in agriculture.
“We also have got activities that we do in the area of crop and livestock to ensure that farmers are able to produce all year round and that farmers livestock get water for use.” he said.
Kafeero, therefore said, “My only request to the minister and the officials is that we can use this opportunity to be able to actually upscale the work that we want to do together.
“We think that is innovative work in terms of how we can be able to bring micro-irrigation to as many farmers as possible.”
The Deputy FAO Country Representative, Suleiman Abubakar, said the Technical Cooperation Programme was set aside to support the request of member countries.
He said that this, specifically the government of those countries in addressing technical issues or unlocking any potential linked to FAO’s areas of mandate.
The Minister Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, commended FAO for supporting the development of the national irrigation policy and strategy.
(NAN)
