Farmers urge FG to complete Hadejia valley project to boost agriculture

Some farmers in Hadejia, Jigawa, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to complete the Hadejia Valley project to encourage agriculture and food production.

The farmers made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Hadejia on their preparations for cropping season.
NAN reports that the Hadejia valley project was initiated in the 1980s to encourage agricultural activities and enhance water supply to communities.
However, the project was abandoned in the last 30 years despite its importance toward achieving the goals of sustainable food production.
Malam Muhammadu Kali, a rice farmer, said that the call was imperative towards achieving the goals of food sufficiency in the country.
Kali said that completion of the project would mobilise participation in agriculture, fishery and enhance high productivity.
He noted that completion of the project would enhance effective utilisation of the water resources for crop, vegetable and perishable food production.
"It is disheartening that the project had been abandoned, despite its importance to the development of agriculture.
“Completion of the project will reduce dependence on rain-fed farming and promote participation in irrigation activity.
"Farmers are not accessing lands due to shortages of farmlands under the project,” Kali said.
He said that non-completion of the project had led to weeds invasion on the river, which blocked water channels and caused annual flooding.
Maigari Garba, a farmer, also called on the federal and state governments to distribute fertilisers to farmers on time.
Garba said that it was good to hasten distribution of fertilisers and seed to farmers, as the rainy season was fast approaching.
He said that distribution of farm inputs on time would end shortages and encourage productivity.
Another farmer, Gambo Yawale, advocated for proactive measures to enable farmers access the agriculture loan scheme initiated by the government.
Yawale said that it was imperative for the programme to take care of the needs of the small holder farmers to encourage productivity.
He noted that peasant farmers were not accessing such facilities provided by commercial banks due to cumbersome processes.
“It is also good to train farmers on modern farming, processing and preservation technologies to enhance their enterprising skills and add value to the produce," Yawale said. 

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