The recently appointed Managing Director of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, has made bold plans to increase paddy rice production and irrigation coverage in Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi.

Bichi stated that the authority wants to expand irrigation coverage from 54,000 to 240,000 hectares to boost paddy rice production from 216,000 tonnes to one million tonnes. In keeping with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he also promised to implement significant changes in agriculture, water resource management, and youth empowerment.

The new MD projected a 30% year-on-year increase in crop yield by adopting modern farming practices and improved irrigation technologies. He also emphasised the importance of youth empowerment, revealing plans to train at least 5,000 young people in various agricultural fields.

Bichi introduced a series of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to guide operations over the next four years, including a 20% boost in water-use efficiency through Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and optimised irrigation systems. He also announced plans to collaborate with institutions such as the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to support farmers and trainees.

The HJRBDA boss pledged to improve community satisfaction by ensuring 85% satisfaction among local stakeholders through inclusive planning and a comprehensive basin management strategy. He also supported the “Every Home a Garden” initiative of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, describing it as a transformative movement aligned with HJRBDA’s core mission.

Bichi underlined the value of teamwork and collaboration, declaring that his administration would prioritise increasing organisational efficiency and trust. He thanked the previous leadership for their efforts and promised to continue significant projects while making the necessary modifications.

The Managing Director thanked Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for his assistance, which he said was essential to furthering the administration’s agricultural agenda.

Source: Tribune Online

Image Credit: African Agri Magazine