Kano State to Boost Agriculture with 11 New Mini Dams

The Kano State Government is set to expand irrigated agriculture by 2,000 acres through the construction of 11 mini dams across the state. This initiative aims to boost food production, create jobs, and tackle rural poverty.

Dr Danjuma Mahmoud, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, announced this during a press conference, indicating that the projects are part of a broader agricultural transformation program. The government has already rehabilitated irrigation facilities, recovering over 1,200 acres of farmland at sites including Jermambaka, Kadawa, and Bunkure.

An additional 200 acres were recovered through collaboration with the Federal Government and the African Development Bank-supported ATAPS project. The ongoing irrigation project at Donsushiya features a two-kilometre dam with a capacity of three billion cubic litres of water, serving 500 hectares of farmland, and is 40 percent complete.

Compensation has been paid in at least six locations, and contractors have mobilized to sites, particularly Bebeji. The initiative is expected to reduce rural-urban migration and improve the income of farming households.