Farmers in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State are expected to benefit from improved irrigation services and enhanced agricultural productivity following the official transfer of the rehabilitated Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP) Water Pumping Station to the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA).
The irrigation facility located in Ifite-Ogwari was rehabilitated under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase One (ATASP-1), an initiative aimed at improving agricultural productivity and promoting sustainable farming practices across Nigeria.
At the handover ceremony representatives of the Federal Government described the project as a major step towards strengthening food security and reducing farmers dependence on seasonal rainfall for crop production.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security the National Programme Coordinator of Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase One Mohammed Ibrahim Arabi, stated that the restored infrastructure would significantly enhance farming activities within the Anambra River Basin.
Represented by Usman Abdullahi, Arabi explained that the intervention restored irrigation access to more than 2,000 hectares of farmland in Omor and neighbouring communities enabling farmers to cultivate crops throughout the year.
According to him, many farmers previously depended largely on rainfall a situation that limited agricultural productivity and exposed them to losses resulting from unpredictable weather patterns. The rehabilitated irrigation system is expected to support multiple planting cycles, increase crop yields and improve farmers’ incomes.
Providing details of the project, the ATASP-1 Zonal Programme Coordinator for the Adani-Omor Zone Romanus Egba disclosed that the rehabilitation involved the restoration of the pumping station and the lining of 40.1 kilometres of irrigation canals.
Egba noted that the project was jointly funded by the African Development Bank and the Federal Government with counterpart contributions from the Anambra State Government.
He commended Chukwuma Soludo for supporting the initiative through the provision of a 5,000KVA transformer to ensure reliable electricity supply to the facility.
The coordinator also acknowledged the contributions of community leaders and stakeholders including Emma Obiajulu Anosike, Paul Obidigwe, and traditional rulers within the project area for supporting the successful completion of the rehabilitation work.
According to Egba, the irrigation infrastructure had suffered years of deterioration significantly affecting irrigation activities and agricultural production within the Ayamelum farming corridor before the intervention.
He expressed confidence that the restored facility would promote dry-season farming increase food production generate employment opportunitiesand stimulate agribusiness development across the region.
Receiving the facility on behalf of Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority Senator Emma Obiajulu Anosike commended ATASP-1 for reviving the abandoned irrigation infrastructure and assured farmers that the authority would ensure proper maintenance and sustainable operation of the facility.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Ifite-Ogwari, Alphonsus Ofuebe, popularly known as Ogidiga, described the rehabilitation as a major milestone for agricultural development particularly for rice farmers within Ayamelum and surrounding communities.
The event attracted more than 200 farmers, officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security representatives of the Omor Kingdom and other stakeholders who expressed optimism that the project would enhance food production, improve livelihoods and contribute to the long-term agricultural transformation of Anambra State.
