NAN-HE-5
Dredging
By Mohammed Mamman
Damaturu, Nov. 16, 2016 (NAN) The Yobe Government on Thursday appealed to the Federal Government to dredge the Kumadugu Yobe River to enhance the water flow and improve irrigation farming in the state.
Alhaji Mustapha Gajerima, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, made the appeal in Damaturu in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
“Dredging the 765-km river will boost irrigation activities and improve food produce to allay fears of famine and food insecurity in Nigeria.
“The communities along the Yobe River Basin will produce more rice, wheat and grains to meet the food needs of the country.
“The dredging will enhance water flow in the river and provide adequate water through the channels to farmlands far away from the river for irrigation.”
Gajerima said that although the river suffered siltation with gross reduction in water flow, “we have recorded increasing number of irrigation farmers along the river basin.”
According to the commissioner, irrigation farmers are cultivating vegetables and getting ready to plant rice and wheat after harvesting the vegetables.
He said that 1,500 hectares of land had been earmarked for rice, wheat and vegetables planting under the state government’s irrigation programme in Nguru, Jumbam and Giedam.
“Over 4,000 youths are to be engaged to cultivate rice, wheat and vegetable to provide them with employment through agriculture.”
“Very soon, the markets will be flooded with tomatoes, pepper and onions.
‘’I appeal for partnership with private sector for the preservation of the harvests.
The commissioner, however, cautioned farmers against selling off harvested rice and grains.
‘’There are reports of grain merchants moving across the states mopping up the harvests, we must resist that to fight food insecurity.”
NAN reports that the Federal Government has warned of impending famine due to huge demand for Nigeria’s grains in the global market. (NAN)
MM/DUA/TA
Edited by Dada Ahmed/Tajudeen Atitebi