FG empowers 60 graduates, 30 rice farmers

The federal government has engaged 60 graduate youths and 30 rice farmers in Delta State in the ongoing Graduate/ Youth Farmers Empowerment Scheme, with the modern application of the Centre Pivot Irrigation Scheme (CPIS).

At the scheme’s flag-off weekend and commissioning of the Illah/Ebu

CPIS, a project of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleman Adamu said the event was yet another milestone in government’s effort to revitalize the River Basin Development Authorities which was established to boost agricultural production in the country through all-year-round farming.

The Minister said the scheme would continue to engage selected participants in batches who would be trained in various agricultural activities.

“The beneficiaries will subsequently be empowered through other government intervention programmes to establish their own agric ventures or become trainers in their own rights,” he said.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of BORBDA, Engr. Saliu Ahmed said that the Authority had undertaken various irrigation facilities in Ewulu, Illah/Ebu both in Delta State and Ukhun Erha, IllushiEga-Oria, both in Edo State; and the Owena Multipurpose Dam, Erusu Dam, Iju/ItaOgbolu in Ondo State; and the Oye, Ero and Apariko Dams in Ekiti State.

In his remark, the Chairman of Delta Flood Plain Irrigation Farmers Association Illah/Ebu, Barr. Raymos Guanah appealed to the federal government to provide roads in the farms as well as more irrigation facilities, farm houses, tractors, harvesters, improved seeds and agro-chemicals.