The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) in Nigeria have trained over one hundred rice farmers on irrigation farming in Paikoro local government area of Niger state North Central Nigeria.
NALDA state coordinator Mr. Aminu Umaru disclosed this while conducting the media around the four hundred and seventeen hectares of land acquired by local farmers for the irrigation farming in the state.
Mr. Umaru explained that over one hundred farmers were trained in irrigation rice farming and upland rice farming so as to harness the potentials of River Kaduna and improve the income of the indigent community which the indigenes initially only used for fishing before the arrival of NALDA in January of this year in the community.
“Over seventy hectares have already been ploughed with rice nursery already in place which transplanting of the irrigation rice from the nursery will soon commence”
He noted that with the presence of NALDA in the community, many young farmers have indicated interest to be trained in rice planting and the handling of farm tools and equipment which is solely provided by NALDA to assist the trained farmer.
According to the state coordinator, “over ten pumping machines two tractor’s, fifty planters, sprayers, transplanters, seedlings, gloves and other farming tools have already been provided, while about ten women from the community were also trained in the programme”
Mr. Umaru noted that the Dam used for the rice irrigation farming was made possible through the abandoned water dam embarked upon by River Basin Authority years ago and promised that the programme will be sustained even after the irrigation farming.
Beneficiaries
Sixty two years old Salisu Noma, a beneficiary of the rice irrigation training who spoke in Hausa said they were ignorant of the River, but with the coming of NALDA, they can now see the advantages in farming business.
For Ahmadu Isah who is the Sarki Ruwa of the community, he thanked NALDA and explained that they have witnessed progress so far and it has made people useful to themselves.
He also appealed to the government and NALDA to support the farmers with Mobility due to the distance of the farming area.
For Sadia Ahmed one of the female beneficiary, NALDA has thought them land clearing and they can now assist the men in planting and harvesting of farm produce and appealed for continuity in the project.
The state coordinator reiterated that farmers were not asked to pay money before the training or after the training and that NALDA will recoup all expenses spent during the farming season and further promised to provide available markets for the produce when harvested.
The programme is the commencement of NALDA dry season farming in five states of the federation namely Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Taraba and Niger state with the official flag off in Niger state.
The programme is part of efforts to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s programme of accelerated food security and economic diversification in the country.
