The Federal Executive Council (FEC) provided $ 27.4 million to complete irrigation projects in Shong, Qwara. He said the ministry submitted a memorandum to the council on the current project in Shong.
“The Council was kind enough to approve this project because of the enormous potential it has for food security policy and our desire to make agriculture the central instrument of our economy,” he said.
Over 80% of the Niger’s area is in the Sahara desert. Only 15% of the land is suitable for agriculture, which provides 39% of GDP. Niger is on the penultimate last place in the HDI (Human Development Index), second only to the Central African Republic.
“We have accepted this increase and change for the Tad Shong irrigation project, which is located in Shong in the state of Kwara,” he added. The project started in 2010 but was abandoned. “Because of its huge potential for irrigation and especially for rice production, we made it a priority project in our ministry and therefore submitted it to the council for increase. We are asking for a change to increase the size of the project because of the potential that it has from 1,500 ha to 2,300 ha of irrigation, ”he said.
The increase is $ 18.9 million, but the addition includes an increase of 700 hectares plus two megawatt solar power plants to replace the diesel power station that was in the original design.
He also said that due to the high cost of diesel and procurement, "the irrigation system will be unstable if we continue to rely on diesel."
The project is located in the Niger River Basin between the Niger and Benue River basins. Mr. Adam said the ministry has the potential to irrigate about 1.8 million hectares, adding that efforts are being made to include the private sector in the project.
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