The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has trained officials on construction of canal for irrigation purpose.
Mr Akibu Ahmed, Lead Consultant, IFAD-VCPD on irrigation made this known during a practical session of the five day training in Minna.
“We are gathered here to train on irrigation techniques. After the training the officials will go back to their states to train farmers on how they can plan and construct irrigation for their farms,” he said.
Ahmed said that the training was meant for irrigation engineers and agricultural production officers attached to the programme in the six participating states.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the six VCDP participating states in rice and cassava value chain include Niger, Taraba, Ogun, Anambra, Benue and Ebonyi.
He said that the exercise was jointly financed by the federal government and IFAD.
The consultant said that the training would expose the trainees to modern techniques in establishing a canal for irrigation purpose.
Similarly, Mr Frank Njar, National Irrigation Engineer, VCDP said that the measure was aimed at boosting dry season farming, especially the cultivation of rice.
Also, Dr Mathew Ahmed, VCDP Coordinator in the state said that the current Additional Financing in the VCDP gives priority to cultivation of dry season rice.
Ahmed said that the programme discovered that wet season cultivation of rice alone could not bring rice farmers out of poverty.
“The idea is to boost production for the farmers which will increase their income thereby eradicating poverty among them,” he said.
Mrs Ajisage Temitope, Agricultural Development Officer, VCDP, Ogun state said that the training would expose them to modern ways of helping farmers to develop irrigation channels during the dry season farming.
“During the training we were taught both theory and practical aspects of developing irrigation channels,” she said.
Temitope promised that farmers from her state would benefit from the knowledge she acquired during the training. (NAN)
