Muhammad Garba
Hundreds of farmers and water users were trained and engaged by Hadejia Jama”are River Basing Development Authority (HJRBDA) for effective maintenance and protection of multi-million dollar irrigation facilities in Kano and Jigawa state.
The Managing Director, HJRBDA, Alhaji Maa’mun Da’u Aliyu revealed this while fielding question from newsmen on their arrangements to ensure effective maintenance of the irrigation facilities under his authority after the ongoing rehabilitation of the Scheme.
He said, Federal government in collaboration with World Bank embarked on the total rehabilitation of the irrigation scheme under Hadejia Jamare and other three River Basing Development Authority in Northern Nigeria
The MD noted that, under the Project known as Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMIN) carried out by Federal Government and World Bank there is a component for training and capacity building of farmers to enable them take part in the maintenance of the irrigation facilities.
“Henceforth, after the TRIMIN Project, farmers will take ownership for maintenance of all primary irrigation facilities and water ways, while federal government will take care the secondary facilities including Dams, Rivers and Main Canals.”
According to him, famers will also be responsible for collecting water fee out of which they will take certain percentage for the regular maintenance.
Mr Ma’amun also revealed that, in September, Hadejia Jamare River Basin Authority is expected to take delivery of Heavy-Duty Machine used for desilting and dredging the river.
He said, the machine will be used for regular clearance and dredging of the river Hadejia which will help to increase water flow in the river and also address the perennial flooding that kill people and destroy farmlands and properties worth billions of Naira annually.
