By Chukwuka Ugokwe :
In a strategic move to boost food security, Anambra State government has affirmed its commitment to collaborate with federal government to reactivate existing dam to enhance irrigation farming in the state.
To achieve this objective, a six Man preparatory team drawn from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Anambra- Imo River Basin Development Authority under “Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria” (SPIN) has opened up discussions with the state government.
Speaking during the engagement meeting in Awka, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, said the state would do the needful to ensure that the people of the state benefit from the project.
He stated the readiness of the state government to key into the 5 year project geared toward resuscitating any identified existing federal government water source/dam for production of crops, especially rice and maize.
Contributing, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Forster Ihejiofor, said the state has enough Dams in Ogboji, Ufuma and Ifite Ogwari/Omor that will meet requirements for establishment of the SPIN project.
Earlier, the SPIN Project Leader, Mrs Stella Arachie, had told the meeting that they were on an assessment tour to determine suitable location for reactivation of a water source/dam in the state.
Arachie,who doubles as the Deputy Director, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, highlighted detailed requirements for establishment of the project to include; availability of Water Source In Dry Season/Dam.
According to her, other requirements include, evidence of land ownership, availability of 500 hectares of land, counterpart funding as well as water users association/cooperatives among others.
She, then, enumerated components of the SPIN project to include, Dam Safety and Irrigation, pointing out that it also targets to undertake studies for hydro power in the nation.
After deliberations, the team with state government officials comprising of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uzoka, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources and Power, Ezekwo V.C, and some Directors visited Ogboji and Ifite Ogwari/Omor to carry out on the spot assessment of the areas.
Ogboji, is in Orumba South Local Government Area, while Ifite Ogwari and Omor communities are in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state.
They all expressed satisfaction that the dams have the stipulated requirements and potentials for all year round irrigation farming in the area, adding that Ifite Ogwari Pumping Station had already been supported by ATAPS-1 project with canals, channels.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources and Power, Engr Julius Chukwuemeka and his Economic Planning and Budget counterpart, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake also attended the engagement meeting.
*Chukwuka is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State