NGGTour: Jibia Irrigation Project now operational, generates N673miillion from dry season harvest.

[FMINigeria]

The sum of 673 million naira has been realised from the harvest of the 2012/2013 Dry Season Irrigation Farming at the Jibia Irrigation Project in Katsina State.

This amount represents the total sales of crops cultivated during the period. The crops include Cow-pea, Wheat, Maize, Ground nut, Cassava and Assorted Vegetables.

Briefing members of the National Good Governance Tour at the project site on Wednesday, the Executive Secretary, Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, Jibia, Mr. Salisu Danjuma said about 6,175 tons of yield (56,750 bags) in addition to 10,000 baskets of tomatoes were harvested from the 2,500 hectres of land covered.

According to him, 1,500 tons of Cow-peas was harvested from 1,000 hectres of land; 1,875 tons of Wheat from 750 hectres; 1,200 tons of Maize from 400 hectres; 100 tons of ground nut from 100 hectres; 1,500 tons of Cassava from 200 hectres; and 10,000 baskets of Tomatoes from 50 Hectres.

The Executive Secretary informed that the Dam was completed in 1981 and commissioned in 1992. "It is designed to irrigate about 3,500 hectres of land and to supply raw water to a nearby treatment plant operated by the State Government for

Jibia Town and 22 villages as well as to Niger Republic", he stated.

"It has a reservoir with capacity for 142 million cubic meters of water to supply the irrigation network and water for consumption", Danjuma added.

He thanked the Katsina State Government and the Local Government for the support given towards the running of the project.

While describing the irrigation project as one of the best in Katsina State the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku charged the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority to put in more effort to raise the yield realized during the 2012/2013 dry season operation.

He equally urged officials to determine the precise input of farmers as against their output. This he said would enable the management know if the farmers were running at a loss or not and to discover areas that would require more interventions.

"I believe we can increase the harvest per hectre. We must be looking at the area of support and training in terms of the method of production the farmers employ in managing their crops from planting to harvesting period.

"Inspite of this observation, I must say this is very encouraging. And we are happy that for once we are doing something practicable to produce here at Jibiya.

"The Federal Government has given more support under the present programme on agriculture. We are beginning to see practical results. It is clear that we are on a better path than in the past", the Information Minister remarked.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria