Abuja: The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr Halilu Khalil, announced that the Federal Government’s ‘Irrigate Nigeria project’ (INP) aims to boost farmers’ income nationwide. Khalil made this statement in a press release signed by Olusegun Ayeoyenikan, NASENI’s Director of Information, on Monday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Halilu made the remarks at the formal launch of the INP on Saturday at Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State. The statement quoted the EVC as emphasizing that improved irrigation allows farmers to extend the number of farming cycles they can complete in a year, thereby increasing their income by enabling farming activities throughout the dry season.
Halilu further stated that the goal of the INP is to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector by providing sustainable irrigation systems that empower farmers to engage in year-round farming. He revealed that the programme is a joint initiative between NASENI and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF).
For its sustainability, Halilu explained that the project is built on four key components. One of these includes the deployment of centralised NASENI irrigation systems to support farming clusters in participating communities. Another key component is the provision of input-enhanced seeds, fertilisers, and technical support to farmers to complement the irrigation equipment.
He further mentioned the specialised nature of the commercial model, aimed at ensuring commercial viability and long-term sustainability. The last component involves carrying out the project on a commercial basis, with care taken to ensure it does not burden participating farmers unnecessarily. Farmers’ repayments for support will be convenient portions of their harvests, such as rice paddy, pooled into a strategic food reserve to stabilise commodity prices and facilitate institutional sales for export.
The state governor, Bala Mohammed, remarked that the project fulfills the essence of governance by creating an enabling environment. He stated, “This project is more than just about farming; it is about food security, economic empowerment, and national stability.”
According to the governor, the INP is a new model for agricultural excellence, designed to drive sustainable growth and development in the sector. Dr Mohammed Dahiru, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), stated that the project is built on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to ensure its long-term sustainability beyond the initial phase. He added that this approach allows the initiative to operate on business principles while prioritising farm households, ensuring their inclusion in the broader goal of developing Nigeria’s agricultural ecosystem.