… As Minister Says Establishment of water users association critical to attainment of food security***

The Federal Government has begun the distribution of farm inputs to 39,029 farmers affected by flood disaster during the previous cropping season in the state.

The newsmen report that the inputs are being distributed to the affected farmers in 19 flood prone local government areas of the state under the National Food Security Council (NFSC).

The inputs distribution exercise was being anchored by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (JISEMA).

Mr Sunusi Ado, Coordinator,  NEMA Territorial Office, Kano, said that President Muhammad Buhari had earlier inaugurated the national inputs distribution exercise in Kebbi State.

Ado, said that the gesture was an additional support by the Federal Government through NFSC, designed to assist farmers to recover from impact of the disaster.

He said the agency had earlier conducted enumeration exercise to register the affected farmers, adding that the exercise was conducted with support of the relevant stakeholders in the state.

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“About 39,000 registered farmers are targetted for the exercise in Jigawa.

“The successful implementation of the intervention is, therefore, very important to assist the affected farmers with modern farm inputs that will support their speedy recovery from the impact of the disaster.

“The intervention is not a compensation for losses incurred by the farmers, it is a demonstration of great concern by President Buhari to support them,” he said.

While calling for effective engagement of stakeholders, Ado urged the beneficiaries to conduct themselves in an orderly manner to facilitate smooth conduct of the distribution exercise across the state.

In his remarks, Alhaji Yusuf Sani, Executive Secretary, JISEMA, commended the Federal Government for the gesture, saying that it would cushion the sufferings of the affected farmers.

Sani said that about 3,000 farmers would benefit from the exercise in Kiyawa LGA.

The beneficiaries, he said, were thoroughly screened to ensure that only the affected farmers benefited from the input distribution exercise.

Also speaking, Alhaji Nasiru Ahmad, Chairman, Kiyawa Local  Government Council, lauded the gesture, adding that it would encourage agricultural productivity in the state.

Ahmad enjoined the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the inputs to increase their production out put, and warned against diversion of the commodities.

On his part, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu, District Head of Kiyawa, also warned the beneficiaries against diversion of the inputs.

Aliyu, represented by Mustafa Ahmad, said community leaders would monitor the beneficiaries to ensure that they put the inputs to good use.

“The gesture is commendable as it will assist our farmers to recover what they lost to flooding.

“As traditional rulers, we will do our best through monitoring to ensure that none of the beneficiaries sold the inputs,” he said.

Some of the beneficiaries, Muhammad Shehu, Rabiu Basiru and Ibrahim Hananiya, thanked the federal government for the gesture and promised to use the inputs judiciously.

The newsmen report that the inputs included assorted fertilisers, seeds, chemicals and water pumps, among others.

In the meantime, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu has commended the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for the establishment of Water Users Association (WUA) to boost irrigation farming system.

Malam Zakari Aliyu, the Deputy Director, Information, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, in a statement on Tuesday, said the minister made the commendation at the North Central Regional workshop for Public Irrigation Schemes, in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The minister said the establishment of the association was a good strategy for shared irrigation system in which farmers have larger control of irrigation system specifically for farming activities.

Represented by the Acting Secretary of FCT Agriculture Secretariat, Malam Ishaq Sadeeq, Aliyu said the FCT Administration would key into the initiative toward ensuring farming activities all year round.

She said FCT administration would work with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources toward having a better understanding of the project with the view of mobilising the participation of FCT farmers in the programme.

“The concept of participatory irrigation management system through the establishment of Water Users Association is no doubt a good initiative, which will help in building the capacities of farmers on sustainable management of irrigation systems to facilitate all year production.

.” For us in the FCT Administration, we are always ready to assist our farmers in any possible way and so, as we get back to Abuja, we will immediately engage in further discussions on the matter towards keying into it.”

Earlier, the Minister of Water Resources, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, explained that the workshop was organised to celebrate the successes recorded since the inception of the initiative.

Adamu said that the workshop brought stakeholders together to brainstorm on the implementation of the programme at regional levels toward addressing the challenges faced by farmers.

The minister appreciated World Bank for funding the programme through the Triming Project, which would help in both funding and capacity building for farmers making use of Irrigation projects.

He expressed the readiness of the ministry to work with relevant agencies toward strengthening the project to achieve self-sufficiently in food production and improved livelihood of farmers.