RIFAN signs pact with water resources ministry, targets all year farming

Ministry of Water Resources and Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), on Friday signed an MOU for proper utilization of irrigation channels of the 12 River Basin Development Authorities (RBDA) to boost rice production across the country.

The President of RIFAN, Mr. Aminu Goronyo, speaking with journalists in Abuja shortly after the ceremony said for proper utilization, the RBDAs were undergoing structural reforms towards partial and eventually full commercialisation of its operations, noting that the National Council on Privatisation has approved the appointment of a transaction adviser to guide the process.

He said the Minister described the move as his contribution towards the Presidential initiative to make Nigeria a rice hub in Africa and ensure food security.

Goronyo said the minister revealed to them that government was determined to reposition and strengthen the RBDAs to become major economic nerve-centres in line with government’s economic diversification policy.

“The Ministry has initiated the National Irrigation Programme, which aimed to establish additional 100,000 hectares of irrigated farmland by 2020”, Goronyo said.

Goronyo said the move become imperative due to rising food demand resulting from growing populations added to the closure of the country’s borders, saying that increase in agricultural output was crucial.

He added that since most agriculture across the country is currently rain-fed, increased availability of irrigation use by farmers is now in high demand.

While noting that the ministry has the capacity to speed up the economic diversification moves, the RIFAN President said it is seeking its collaboration to enable it utilize its 116 facilities which include 38 irrigation sites, 37 dams and 41 water supply projects spread nationwide.

The River Basin Authorities are; Anambra-Imo, Benin- Owena, Chad Basin, Cross River, Hadejia-Jama’are, Lower Benue and Lower Niger. Others are Niger Delta; Ogun – Osun; Sokoto – Rima; Upper Benue and Upper Niger Basin Authorities.

He said the approval would reposition and strengthen of the rice farmers to produce more rice and make Nigeria to become major economic nerve-centre in rice production in line with government’s economic diversification policy.

Goronyo said the irrigation scheme would help rice farmers produce three times a year.

He said the minister promised to meet with the heads of all the affected RBDAs to work out the modalities for work to commence.

Goronyo added that while irrigation is essential for rice productivity improvement there was need for complementary services, infrastructure, and institutions for greater impacts on production and wellbeing.

He, however, said RIFAN under the Anchor Borrowers Programme of the Central Bank would support the scheme through the provision of institutional support services and adequate farm inputs.

“These include the facilitation of access to farm inputs such as fertilizer and herbicide that are of great importance to boost rice productivity and the availability of improvement of extension services to provide a source of information and training for the farmers”, he added.

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