Jigawa Assembly Moves To Ensure Food Security

The Jigawa House of Assembly has urged the state government
to complete abandoned irrigation projects to boost agricultural activities and
ensure food security in the state.

The assembly made the appeal when it adopted the report of
its Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources, which appraised progress in
the first and second quarter budget implementation in the agriculture sector.

The Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Musa Hassan, said
while presenting the report, that more than 20 irrigation projects had been
abandoned in the past 20 years across the state.

Hassan said that completion of the projects would encourage
agricultural activities and provide job opportunities to the unemployed youth
in the state.

“The committee noted that there are a lot of abandoned
irrigation projects across the state.

“If the irrigation potential of the state is harnessed,
employment opportunities as well as food security will improve,” he said.

Hassan expressed satisfaction over the progress of work at
the Agufa irrigation site and other projects initiated by the state Ministry
for Agriculture and its agencies.

The committee also called for the establishment of research
institutions to enhance agricultural production.

The House, presided by the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Sule
Inuwa, adopted the report, and directed all agricultural agencies in the state
to ensure full implementation of their budgetary allocations.

“The committee should work to see that irrigation services
are improved and agencies should be encouraged to utilise resources
appropriated to them,” he added.