By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
THE Federal Government has launched a practical irrigation training initiative for farmer collectives across the country. The programme is designed to enable year-round crop production, increase farmers’ incomes, and strengthen national food and nutrition security.
Speaking at a Training and Demonstration event for the Dogaroda-Kai Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) Farmers’ Group in Keffi, Nasarawa State, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated the initiative aims to equip farmers with straightforward irrigation solutions. This move seeks to reduce dependence on unpredictable rainfall and significantly boost productivity.
Represented by the Director of the Federal Department of Agricultural Extension Services (FDAES), Mr. Ayodele Olawumi, the Minister noted the training aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises food security, farmer empowerment, and climate-smart agriculture.
Senator Kyari emphasised that the Ministry’s agenda “is firmly anchored on the belief that Nigeria must feed itself and prosper through Agriculture.” He added that it positions agriculture as central to national development by focusing on food security, empowering grassroots farmers with training and modern technology, promoting climate-resilient practices, and creating jobs to drive rural economic growth.
To achieve these goals, the Minister outlined several key Ministry actions: distributing critical agricultural inputs nationwide, strengthening extension services, and expanding partnerships with development agencies and the private sector to mobilise investment.
He stressed that the irrigation programme, spearheaded by the FDAES, is a core part of efforts to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector into a modern and resilient engine for development. The training will cover simple irrigation techniques, crop diversification, and market-driven solutions.
“Water remains the lifeblood of agriculture,” Senator Kyari pointed out. “With the adoption of simple irrigation facilities, farmers are better positioned to extend their farming activities beyond the rainy season, diversify crop production, increase yields, and improve household income.”
The SHEP project, funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented since 2017, partners with KickStart International Limited to provide affordable irrigation technology. The Minister expressed commitment to replicating this training model across the country to promote sustainable practices nationwide.
Commending all stakeholders, he urged the Dogaroda-Kai farmers to embrace the new methods, aiming to make Nasarawa State a hub for sustainable productivity.
In his remarks, the Secretary of the Dogaroda-Kai SHEP Farmers, Yusuf Mohammed, pledged that members would leverage the new knowledge to increase both productivity and their livelihoods.
A key highlight of the event was the official handover of a manual water pump to the farmers’ group by the Director of Agricultural Extension Services.
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