The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo Nanono has expressed the need to identify potential areas for the development of more irrigation schemes in Nigeria.
Nanono said that the irrigation schemes will help to raise crops, livestock and take note of time line operations so as to promote irrigated agriculture in each of the six (6) Geopolitical Zones.
The Minister said this during a courtesy visit by the Minister of Water Resources, (FMWR), Engr. Sulemain Adamu and his team to the Ministry on Tuesday.
The aim of the visit was to seek further avenues of collaboration by both ministries in the development of the Agriculture, especially dry season farming, NatureNews reports.
Nanono while receiving Adamu, said that upgrading of the irrigation technology would ensure sustainable economic growth, improve accessibility and affordability of sound technology such as smart precision irrigation in the build up to attaining food security, nutrition and increase the internally generated revenue of the farmers.
In a statement signed on Wednesday by the Ministry’s Director of Information, Theodore Ogaziechi, the minister said, ‘’water is key to agriculture and to sustain water supply essentially all season farming, there is every need for effective collaboration and synergy between the two ministries.”
He informed that the Ministries will set up a Steering and Technical Committees to ensure that proper framework and guidelines are outlined towards achieving set targets for the benefits of the country in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification policy of the economy.
Speaking on dry season farming, the Minister said, “people are now putting more efforts into dry season farming and once you mention dry season farming, it is synonymous with water.
“This is where FMWR comes in, either in small or large irrigation farming, our role in the Ministry is to take advantage of the location of the water bodies provided by the Ministry of Water Resources, such dams, and explore how to promote irrigation farming in those areas.”
He appreciated his colleague, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman Adamu for his support and commitment in the rehabilitation of dams across the country.
In his remarks, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu in reiterated the commitment of his ministry to support the ministry in any capacity to realize food security.
He stated that, “FMWR is committed towards providing adequate water supply during the dry season farming to ensure food security in the country and will support in terms of provision of access water in rural areas for crop and livestock development across the nation.”
He called for more commitment by key players in ensuring that the expectations are met, noting that ‘the development of positive attitudes will bring about positive results.
