Niger to Revive 17 Irrigation Schemes to Aid Dry Season Farming

By Laleye Dipo in Minna

In an effort to encourage and boost dry season farming, the Niger State government has said that it will revive the 17 irrigation schemes abandoned across the state.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello disclosed this in Minna Thursday in a message to the 1st Commodity Trade Exhibition organised by the Niger (IFAD) assisted value chain development programme.

Governor Bello, who was represented by his deputy, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Ketso, explained that the decision to revive the irrigation facilities was because of the realisation that “dry season farming supports the annual yields per farmer”.

“Unfortunately most of our farmers use the dry season for rest, this is a trend we must change. We are working assiduously to revive all the 17 irrigation schemes in the state and put them to meaningful use,” he said.

Governor Bello also said that the government was working with some local and international partners for the development of the state’s agricultural potentials, adding that under the partnership, over 200 hectares of land had been put under cultivation for rice, cassava and maize.

Details later…