The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, on Wednesday flagged off the 2023/24 dry season farming in Benue State.
The minister, who performed the ceremony at Mbaku, Makurdi, said the Federal Government targeted 500,000 hectares of irrigable land in 2024.
Utsev said that President Bola Tinubu had directed the ministry to ensure that 500,000 hectares irrigable land was maximally put to use in 2024.
According to the minister, all the 12 River Basins in the country will be fully utilised in 2024 in line with the renowned hope agenda of the president.
He also said that most of the basins were partly commercialised for the purpose of boosting the country’s food production and economy.
The minister said that the 1,500 hectares of land at the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority Makurdi farm located at Mbaku community would not be enough for irrigation farming in 2024.
He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to deliver on its mandate and called on investors to invest into the country’s water sector.
The minister said that the government would also provide improved seedlings and technical support to the farmers.
Earlier, Mohammed Addra, the Managing Director, Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Makurdi, commended the host community for their cooperation and promised to continue to work with them.
He also presented certificates and distributed starter packs to the 5th Batch of graduands under the Graduates/Youths Empowerment Programme of the Federal Government.
The minister also inspected the rice mill, Songhai Model Farm, and distributed water pumps to some farmers and other inputs to the graduates.
