ibironkeeniola 
Fadama farmers in Kano State have called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to repair and rehabilitate earth dams across the country.
This, they said, would help to reduce the spate of rural-urban migration of young people into cities in search of jobs.
The farmers made the call in an interview with AgroNigeria, adding that the small and medium dams in the country were opportunities to engage youths in irrigation farming at different locations without reliance on government jobs.
Malam Muhammad Mai-albasa, a leader of the Kunnawa Dam Fadama farmers explained that the action was necessary as the federal government was opening more windows of opportunity to farmers in the country.
Mai-albasa disclosed that Kunnawa Dam, which was constructed over 60 years ago, had broken down in 2011 but was repaired by in 2019 by FMARD thorough its Department of Climate Change under its On-farm Water Harvest Structure Programme.
He, however, added that the dam had dried up this year due to excessive cultivation, calling on the ministry to expand and rehabilitate the dam so as to enable the farmers produce more vegetables.
The farmer leader pointed out that in 2019, the farmers were able to produce vegetables worth 10 million Naira at the bottom of the dam – a feat he said was unachievable this year unless the dam would be given the due attention.
On his part, leader of Kunnawa Dam herdsmen, Alhaji Ardo Geza, urged the federal government to expand the dam and improve its conditions.
This, Geza said, would help improve the living conditions of farmers and herdsmen who have been habiting the dam area for years.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA