Yobe State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mustapha Gajirema, has said that the state government would empower farmers in Nguru and Muguram with irrigation scheme before the end of the year.

Gajirema said, in Damaturu, on Tuesday, that work on the construction of channels from the Nguru lake was almost completed.

The commissioner said that government constituted Irrigation Task Force project to promote 12 calendar months farming activities in the state.

He said that the water channels were being constructed to provide farmers with water from the Nguru lake.

“The project is designed to make farming an all year round activity where farmers will be switching off from wet season farming to irrigation and vice versa.”

According to him, this will help to improve the economy and enhance food security.

“The 35 hectares rice irrigation trail project in Muguram village and the maize farm in Jumbam village recorded bumper harvests.”

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He said that farmers would cultivate wheat from November to March, while rice would be cultivated between April and October.

He said the state had 500 hectares of arable lands in Nguru and 400 others in Muguram for gradual expansion of the irrigation scheme.

The commissioner assured that government would support wet season and irrigation farmers with inputs to promote agricultural production in the state.

Gajirema also cautioned farmers against rushing their harvests to the markets.

“We must resist temptations of extravagance, you are encouraged to preserve your harvests,” while assuring that government would also provide markets for the harvests.

“Government will buy the products for the Strategic Grains Reserve programme to be sold out to the public at a subsidised rate during periods of need.” (NAN)