Salejo Ali, Kano
The Kano State Government has approved N2.5 billion for the development of irrigation infrastructure in Kafin Chiri dam in Garko local government area of the state.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf granted the approval to Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project, for the development of the irrigation Dam infrastructure.
According to a press statement by the Project Communication Specialist Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project Ameen Yassar said, the project was aimed at boosting agricultural production and creating jobs for youths.
He noted that the project will cover 419 hectares of land, enabling farmers to engage in both dry season and rain-fed agriculture.
The Kano State Project Coordinator of the Islamic Development Bank and the Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF) funded project Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad said, the initiative will utilize funds saved from the Watari project, which was initially planned to cover 1,000 hectares but was adjusted due to a similar federal government project in the vicinity.
“we obtained approval for the Islamic Development Bank to use part of the funds saved from the Watari project, to develop 419 hectares elsewhere and the state governor gave us the go-ahead to develop agricultural land in the vicinity of Kafin Chiri dam”.
The project coordinator engaged with farmers to highlight the project’s benefits, inform them about the enumeration exercise, and seek their input. He assured that all affected farm owners would be enumerated and compensated fairly.
Also, the KSADP Project Engineer, Zahraddeen Zarewa, explained that the project involves a gravity-fed irrigation system, conveying water from the dam to farms through canals, eliminating the need for fuel-powered water pumps and increasing farm values.