Youths urge Nasarawa to adopt new irrigation technology to boost food production

Youths in Nasarawa state who are undergoing training in irrigation farming have called on the state government to adapt modern farming technology to boost dry season rice production in the state.

The young farmers made this plea during a visit by Prof. Henry Igbadun, the Project Coordinator of Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation – Water Enabler Compact (TAAT-WEC) project, to selected demonstration farms in three communities in Lafia Local Government Area of the state.

The Project Coordinator, who was represented by the Nasarawa state Coordinator, Oklo Jonathan, said that the project began in 2019 with the training of 40 youths and agriculture extension workers on the new irrigation technologies.

According to him, the farmers were trained and introduced to the technologies with field demonstration where the farmers in groups of 10, applied the technologies in rice production from nursery to transplanting.

He said that the essence of the project was water management for increased rice production.

“The project is aimed at building the capacity of a cadre of trainers, including innovation platform facilitators, extension agents, champion farmers and youths in the proper use of irrigation and water management technologies as well as implementation of good irrigation management practice,” Igbadun said.

The project which is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) is led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and implemented in Nigeria through the Institute of Agricultural Research (IAR) at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for water conservation and boosting of agricultural productivity.

During the visit to Gidan Mai Akuya, demonstration farm site, Ayuba Abimiku, who appreciated the initiators of the project, explained that the pressured plastic pipes, sprinkler, advanced wet and drying scheduling irrigation technologies had made dry season farming a lot easier.

Abimiku said that with the new initiative, less water was required unlike the old method where they often flooded their farms.

“This system allows for proper water management and the farmer can determine the right amount of water needed in the field per time,”he said.

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Similarly, Godiya Ovey from Madagba community, said that the system had made dry season rice farming attractive to the youths, who hitherto do not want to get themselves dirty.

“This is a system that does not require much effort once you know how to set it up. You can combine it with other endeavours,” he added.

Also, Moses Tsaku, another youth farmer from Azuba-Bashayi community, said the technology had changed his perception about farming.

He encouraged other farmers to consider going into dry season farming using the technology and not rely only on rain-fed farming for rice production.

The farmers therefore, urged the state government to scale up the technology and provide the necessary support in order to ensure an all year round rice production and sufficiency after the coronavirus pandemic.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Bukan-sidi Rice Innovation Platform, in the state, Mr Jonathan Joshua lauded the TAAT-WEC project, saying it has engendered youth interest in agriculture.

Joshua therefore, advised the state government and other agricultural stakeholders to scale up the project in order to ensure food sufficiency, especially with the looming food shortage occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.