FG directs River Basin authorities to replicate Songhai Farming Model in Nigeria


 The Federal Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday directed all River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs) to package their water services in the Songhai model to promote agricultural production.
Dr Musa Ibrahim, Director, River Basin Operations and Inspections in the ministry, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the model was capable of generating employment for youths.
He said the recent inauguration of the First Graduate Farmers Scheme by the Federal Government in July was a positive step towards the promotion of agriculture as a policy thrust of President Muhammadu Buhari`s administration.
Ibrahim disclosed that 50 youths had been empowered with land and water facilities in Kampe Irrigation Scheme (Ejiba), Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi.
NAN recalls that the Federal Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Songhai Farms, Porto-Novo, Benin Republic, to harness resources of River Basin Development Authorities in the country.
He said the project, which was anchored by the Lower Niger Basin Development Authority, would be replicated in all the 12 RBDAs across the country.
``We are calling on other River Basins to take a cue from the Kampe Irrigation Scheme to support the vision and objectives of the present administration’s drive for food security and job creation,`` he said.
It will be recalled that in a recent interview with NAN, the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, had said that the agreement would also help in boosting employment opportunities for youths.
According to him, the scheme will enhance the ability of the river basins to package their water services with the provision of complementary basic rural infrastructure and improved agricultural support services.
``These centres would be along the Songhai Farm settlement style, exploring Public-Private Partnership model ownership and financing, while the river basins would be the primary delivery vehicles.
``The main objective of this scheme is massive job creation for the youth with all-year round agricultural production and other value chain activities such as processing, storage and markets.
``Each of these farm centres will have a minimum of 50 graduate amounting to about 1,200 graduate employees nationwide, `` the minister had said.
Adamu directed the Chief Executive Officers of the River Basins to take charge of implementation of the scheme for increased food production, graduate employment and effective management of the country`s water resources.
He stressed the need for Nigerians to begin to invest in agriculture, saying that this would boost wealth creation, human capital development and improvement in the health sector.

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