The World Bank on Friday June 20, 2014 said it had approved 495.3
million dollars (about
N80.7 billion) to boost agriculture in Northern Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Bamidele Oladokun, Communications
Associate to the World Bank, in Abuja.
The statement said that the bank’s executive directors approved the
money to improve farmers’ access to irrigation and drainage services.
It stated that the money was also to strengthen institutional
arrangements for integrated water resources management. “The board also intends
to enhance delivery of agricultural services in selected large-scale public
schemes in the Northern Nigeria.
“This will be done through a project, ”Transforming Irrigation
Management in Nigeria (TRIMING).The TRIMING aim
is to improve access to irrigation and drainage services and to strengthen
institutional arrangements for integrated water resources management and
agriculture service delivery in selected large scale public schemes in Northern
Nigeria.
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Project: Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (Source:http://www.worldbank.org) |
“TRIMING will improve existing irrigation on 27, 000 hectares,
irrigate an additional 23, 000 hectares, and benefit more than 140, 000
farmers, while mobilising private sector investment.
“It marks a transformational effort to improve large-scale public
irrigation for expanding food production and encourage economic growth in rural
areas.
“This is necessary to end poverty and boost prosperity, as well as
enhance resilience of agriculture production systems,’’ the statement said.
It quoted the bank’s acting Vice-President for Africa Region, Mr
Jamal Saghir, as saying that, “unlocking Africa’s development potential
requires interventions in key sectors, such as energy and water.
“By taking a comprehensive approach, the TRIMING project will
increase farm productivity, build climate resilience and reduce flooding risks.
“It will also improve the lives and well-being of millions of
Nigerian citizens in Africa’s largest economy.”
The statement said that agriculture was a key sector of the Nigerian
economy accounting for 22 per cent of gross domestic product in 2012.
“The Nigeria’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) is a major
initiative to drive rural income growth, accelerate achievement of food and
nutritional security, and generate employment.
“The bank’s portfolio of projects in agriculture, including research,
extension and technology dissemination, market access and value addition, was
fully geared towards supporting the implementation of the ATA.
“Reaching the ATA’s goals requires pursuing an ambitious policy and
institutional reform agenda, and transforming public irrigation will play an
important role for securing sustainable growth of food production, it said.
The statement also quotes Miss Marie-Francoise Nelly, the Director
of the bank in Nigeria, as saying that “in Nigeria’s determination to diversify
and integrate its economy, the project will help in three vital ways.
“By restoring agricultural productivity, creating job opportunities
for a large number of unskilled young people, and creating conditions for
growth and peace in the Northern Nigeria.
“The project will help to set-up Water User Associations (WUAs) and
engage local communities in setting, collecting, and allocating water user
fees.
“It will also help support the design of a comprehensive reform
package for water resources management and irrigation in Nigeria.
It further quoted the bank’s team leader for TRIMING, Mr David
Casanova, as saying that the project’s innovative approach was intended to
improve sustainability by promoting autonomy at scheme level and empowering
WUAs organisation.
The statement said that the project would be implemented by the
Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) and would become effective from Oct.
1.
But the rising insecurity and unrest in the north, one begs to question the date of commencement of this project and its likelyhood of success
Ajibola Aderonke is an auditor at professional services firm Ernst & Young (EY). She previously worked another Big 4 accounting firm PwC. She can be reached at ajibolaaderonke@gmail.com for ideas and suggestions. The post above and its ensuing comments, if any, is purely the opinion of the writer.
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