Yobe to empower youths through irrigation
The Yobe State government is to establish an irrigation scheme that will engage up to 40,000 youths from across the state as the Gaidam administration taps on its relationship with the Chinese government and Chinese businesses to improve agriculture and accelerate food production.
Governor Ibrahim Gaidam revealed this yesterday in Dalian, China during a visit to interact and partner with an irrigation equipment manufacturing firm, RainFine (Dalian) Irrigation Company Ltd, according to a statement from his Director, Press Affairs, Abdullahi Bego
The governor, who was given a presentation on modern irrigation methods and taken round the manufacturing facilities of the irrigation equipment company in Dalian, expressed confidence that Yobe youth would benefit immensely from the partnership. He said he had already approved the setting up of a small committee of agricultural experts in the state to identify locations where the special irrigation farms would be set up and help lift the project.
“I am confident we can begin this before the year runs out, precisely within the next three months. We have it in our budget for the year and we are determined to carry it through”, Gaidam said.
RainFine Irrigation Company’s General Manager, Mr. Wang Zhi, said center pivot irrigation agriculture technologies are much more effective and cheaper than their predecessors as they take less time to set up, require less maintenance and are easier to handle by local farmers. Mr. Wang Zhi said he was excited to work with the Yobe State government to boost food production, adding that his company had worked with local and state governments in Ethiopia and Sudan on irrigation agriculture.
As part of his visit to China, Governor Gaidam also visited an irrigation farm in Jixian called ‘Tianjing Jixian Lvpusheng Vegetable Planning Company Ltd’ where he and his entourage discussed with the proprietor, Ms Lu Xiulung, on advanced seed production and management as well as improved seed varieties in irrigation farming.
While in Tianjing, Gaidam discussed with the chairman of China International Engineering Company Ltd 18th Bureau Group, Mr. Peng Shigou, on partnering to develop and expand infrastructure in Damaturu. The governor is expected back in the country tomorrow.