World Bank To Support Irrigation Farming In 8 Northern States

The World Bank

The World Bank is set to support irrigation farming in about eight states from northern Nigeria, the bank’s representative, Mr David Casanova, has said.


Casanova, who led other officials of the World Bank, including the team leader of the Trimix Project, under the federal ministry of water resources, told Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, during a courtesy visit, that the support was part of measures to boost irrigation farming and strengthen food security.

The beneficiaries he listed include,Katsina, Kano, Zamfara, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Adamawa and Gombe States, noting that in Katsina State, the bank would be in Zobe dam where it would support sorghum production, stressing that a study showed that the site had sandy soil, and expressed optimism that the staff of the Katsina State government would give the officials of the bank the needed cooperation to achieve the desired result.

In a remark, Peter Yakubu Manjuk of the Trimix Project said that the bank would provide $500million,  while the federal government would contribute 8 per cent of the amount to boost dry season farming in the selected states this year. Manjuk said that a holistic project plan had been produce by the federal ministry of water resources to cover infrastructural development for managing irrigation covering 40,000 hectres.

Responding, Masari said that the increase in population had made it imperative to engage in dry season farming to feed the people.

He disclosed that the state government would construct one dam in each of the 34 local government areas for dry season farming, insisting that such venture was capable of providing 120,000 jobs to peasant farmers.
Masari further said that the state government would leverage on the advancement in technology to give more attention to dry season farming.