The Federal Government has announced the expansion of irrigation infrastructure across Kano South as part of efforts to boost dry-season farming, enhance food security, and create jobs, under an Ecological Project Office (EPO)–funded intervention.
This was disclosed on Monday during a stakeholders’ planning workshop organised by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with the Ecological Project Office (EPO) and other partners, focusing on community-based engagement for sustainable agriculture and biodiversity restoration under the Kano Irrigation Scheme Project.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Director of Pollution Control at the Ecological Project Office, Siraja Muhammad Yusuf, said the project would rehabilitate three major dams in Kano South – Tiga Dam, Kafin Chiri Dam, and Challawa Gorge Dam-while also expanding irrigation channels to cover more farmlands.
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According to him, the intervention will significantly increase irrigable hectares, enable year-round farming, and translate into higher food production, employment generation, and improved livelihoods for farmers.
“By and large, this project will lead to more food for Kano South, more food for Nigeria, more employment opportunities, and more fodder for livestock. Ultimately, it will also help reduce farmers–herders clashes,” Yusuf said.
He explained that beyond dam rehabilitation, the project includes the expansion of main canals, field canals, and distributary canals, alongside the sinking of boreholes and tube wells in areas not covered by irrigation channels.
Yusuf assured stakeholders that transparency and inclusivity are central to the project, noting that traditional institutions, community leaders, and relevant agencies have been fully captured as stakeholders to ensure fair distribution and proper utilisation of project facilities.
“Each tube well is tied to a specific farm through GPS coordinates, with the farmer’s details clearly documented. Before distribution of water pumps, beneficiaries will be contacted, and traditional rulers will be involved to ensure accountability,” he added.
The SGF’s representative further revealed that over 5,000 irrigation pumps, alongside tractors, sprayers, hand planters, hand tillers, and other farming implements, will be distributed to beneficiaries to support modern agricultural practices.
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Earlier, the Administrative Manager of IITA, Ado Rabo Shuaibu, said the project, sponsored by the Ecological Project Office under the Presidency, was facilitated through the efforts of Senator Abdurrahman Kawu sumaila, who attracted the intervention to Kano South.
Shuaibu explained that IITA’s role includes capacity building, training farmers on modern farming techniques, and providing improved seed varieties to increase productivity.
Also speaking, the IITA Climate Change Specialist, Professor Lucky Omoigui, said the stakeholders’ workshop was designed to build partnerships and ensure community ownership of the project.
“This meeting is about inclusivity-bringing all stakeholders together so they can serve as champions in their communities and help communicate the project’s objectives to farmers,” he said.
SolaceBase reports that the project, initially designed for two years, is expected to run until available funds are fully utilised, with most physical works already completed, pending large-scale distribution of irrigation equipment.
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On his part, the District Head of Kiru and Dan-Majen Kano, Alhaji Ibrahim Hamza Bayero, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and other partners for their commitment to the successful implementation of the project.
He assured that traditional leaders would fully support the initiative and work closely with relevant stakeholders to ensure the project achieves its intended objectives.
Meanwhile, one of the participants, Maryam Adamu Bunkure, said the project would create numerous job opportunities across benefiting communities. She added that beneficiaries are committed to making proper use of the farming equipment to be provided and pledged that they would not sell the items but use them to improve agricultural productivity.