In a move to combat food insecurity, the Nasarawa State Government has announced plans to construct a network of mini dams designed to support all-season irrigation farming and significantly boost agricultural output.
The initiative was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Umar Tanko Tunga, during a ministerial briefing in the state capital, Lafia.
The event was jointly organised by the State Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism and the Nasarawa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
According to Tunga, the mini dams will be strategically located across the state to guarantee a reliable water supply for dry-season farming.
He emphasised that beyond enhancing food security, the project is designed to create jobs and productively engage local youth and women.
“The state-led mini dam project is designed to complement existing federal agricultural interventions in Nasarawa.”
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The commissioner further highlighted several key ongoing federal projects, which includes: The approved construction of two new dams in Lafia and, the fast-tracked completion of the Farin Ruwa project, a multi-purpose initiative targeting hydropower generation, widespread irrigation, and domestic water supply.
The Commissioner underscored that Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration has successfully transformed Nasarawa into a prime destination for agribusiness, attracting substantial domestic and foreign investments.
He said the milestones of the administration’s agricultural policy focuses on mechanised farming and youth/women empowerment which includes Jangwa/Agwatashi 10,000 hectares which stands as the largest public-private agricultural investment in the North Central zone.
State Cassava Industrial City (SCIC) Kokona LGA / Sequoia Holdings Ltd. A 10,000-hectare integrated facility valued at over N30 billion which marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s large-scale cassava value chain expansion.
Voice of Nigeria report that through these combined infrastructure and investment initiatives, Nasarawa State is positioning itself as a central pillar of Nigeria’s agro-industrial evolution, ensuring sustainable economic growth and long-term food security.
On his part, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Ibrahim Tanko, said that his ministry had created a lot of avenues, including the ministerial briefing, to enlighten, educate and inform the public about the policies, programmes and projects embarked on by the present administration in the state.
He used the medium to appeal to the public, especially those from communities where agricultural projects and other facilities are provided, to take ownership and ensure its protection against criminals, vandals and saboteurs.
