The Managing Director of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority LNRBDA, Dr. Adeniyi Saheed Aremu has expressed the authority’s commitment to proffer solution to the problem of food crisis in Nigeria.
He said that the authority is working tirelessly through its programmes to ensure an all year food production in the country.
Aremu disclosed these during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin the Kwara State capital, North Central Nigeria.
On the authority’s programmes, he said that they have constructed several dams in order to provide water during the dry season through 15 new irrigation schemes that were established in both Kwara and Kogi states.
“In order to ensure an all year food production, the authority constructed a number of Dams to provide water for irrigation during the dry season and between 2017 and 2021, 15 new irrigation schemes were established both in Kogi and Kwara States while the existing schemes were rehabilitated.
According to him, in line with the Authority’s mandate and as contained in the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan (ERGP) of the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, the authority has opened up over 1800 irrigable lands within its area of coverage for different agricultural purposes.
Aremu added that, the authority has also purchased several pieces of land such as a 500 hectares of farmland along Malete-Alapa road, through the Kwara State Government for farming activities, a programme that is expected to provide jobs and boost food sufficiency in Kwara State.
He also noted that a similar policy was implemented in Kogi State where over 5,000 hectares of farmland was acquired and a partnership with the State Government is expected to yield about 7,170 tons of paddy rice from several farmers.
Similar gestures, he disclosed, were extended to rice farmers in Kwara State, which he said resulted in Kwara State Rice Farmers Association becoming the second largest producer of rice in the just concluded Rice Pyramid in Abuja.
The Managing Director, however, pointed out that the problem of transportation has been a major causes of food shortage in the country, noting that the authority has equally constructed several roads to link farms with the urban centres to ensure adequate food circulation.
He also stated that his parastatal is also working to provide access to clean and safe water by drilling over 700 different kinds of boreholes to date and constructing a total of 35 Mini Water Works across the five senatorial districts covered by the Authority between 2017 -2021.
In order to build capacity to ensure better service in water supply, the Managing Director revealed that the authority trained over 300 members of staff between 2017 and 2021 across various Departments, Units and cadres.
On the authority’s exploit in Agriculture extension and modern farming practices, Aremu said they are making efforts in integrated farming system through the establishment of Songhai Model Farm Centre.
“The Authority has made concerted efforts towards achieving integrated farming system, especially incorporating the Songhai Model“.
He disclosed that the authority, in the 2019 Fiscal Year, awarded the contract for the establishment of Songhai Model Farm Centre.
Dominica Nwabufo
