By Wole Mosadomi

After  the  landmark  flag off  of the  Nigeria-Israeli Joint Agricultural Project, tagged “Irrigation is Life” in Lapai Gwari village, near Minna in Niger state  recently, the Niger state Governor, Dr.  Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has brought in over  100 tractors to boost food production not only in the state  mechanized farming.

The “Irrigation is Life” project was muted in July last year under the auspices of the Israeli Agricultural Humanitarian project which is aimed at promoting dry season farming in the state.

Speaking at the flag off ceremony in Lapai Gwari Village few kilometers from Minna the state capital, Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Moshe Ram called on the Federal government on the urgent need to go back to Agriculture as a way out for a permanent sustenance of the economy not only for the country but even for the people of the country as individuals.

He noted that oil which is the main source of the economy of the country today can dry up in future adding that agriculture will remain more permanent as the source of the economy and livelihood for the people.

According to him, “Oil is important; very important to the country but it will dry up one day; Agriculture will be a source of livelihood to the people of Nigeria and this is why Niger state which is agriculturally endeared should lead in this aspect.”

He said to succeed in the sector, every step should be taken to discourage the urban drift of the youth from the rural areas to the urban cities adding that this could be done by training and encouraging the youth on the need for them to go back to farming. Mr. Ram pointed out that the project is part of an agreement between the two countries-Israel and Nigeria for accelerated development especially in agriculture which Israel is noted for.

The project is sited on a 2.5 hectre land in Lapai Gwari Village and it has a modern drip irrigation farming including green Houses where seedlings such as water melon, tomatoes and pepper would grow.

Experts on agriculture from Israel have also arrived the state to transfer their experience and expertise on agriculture for the actualization of the project.

Niger state governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu in his remarks thanked the Israeli government for its fine gesture which he said will not only boost food production in the country but also reduce the level of poverty across the country.

He noted that if the country as a whole had been paying proper attention to agriculture, “There wouldn’t have been the problem of beggars, there wouldn’t have been the syndrome of the Almajiris which is just being tackled and the country would have been one of the richest in the world.”

The governor pointed out that as at today, the state has 682,000 hectrage waiting to be cultivated adding that if this is done, the state will not only be feeding Nigeria but also exporting food crops to other countries.

Dr. Aliyu emphasized on the need for the government at all levels to take farming especially Irrigation farming more seriously in order to move the country forward in all spheres of life.

Still in the same agricultural pursuit, the state recently launched 100 tractors and their implements to further boost food production in the state through mechanized farming. The total cost of the tractors and their implements are put at over N660m.
Impressed by the quick delivery of the tractors and the positive response farmers and people of the state who have grazed the occasion exibited, the governor authorized the state commissioner of agriculture and rural development, Alhaji Mohammed Kwotu Abdullahi to place order for additional 50 tractors which should be delivered before the end of this year.

He said the additional tractors on arrival will be distributed to the rice producing areas of the state to further boost rice production and thus maintaining its lead as the highest rice producer in the country.