Gombe moves to explore 39-year-old Balanga dam for irrigation activities
….pleads with farmers to pay water rate
Gombe State Commissioner for Water, Environment and Forest Resources Mohammed Fawu, on Tuesday said efforts were on to proffer solutions to dry season farming by providing irrigation opportunities for agricultural purposes.
Our correspondent reports that the dam has been in existence since 39 years.
Fawu made this disclosure when he led officials of the ministry on a comprehensive tour of the Balanga dam and irrigation scheme facilities.
He said, “this is with the sole aim of proffering immediate solutions; so that irrigation, farming activities will commence without further delay.”
Fawu described the dam as ‘gigantic edifice’, stressing that it is a unique investment by the Gombe State Government with huge potentials of providing employment, “enhancing commercial activities and a great boost to Internally Generated Revenue for the state,” he added.
He assured dry season farmers and stakeholders that necessary action would be taken so that irrigation activities will resume adding “as it is a key area of interest for Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya administration’s desire of delivering dividends of democracy to the electorates.”
The Commissioner at a round table discussion after completion of tour at the palace of the District Head of Gelengu; Manu Yerima, with leaders of Balanga Local Government Area irrigation farmers association said the engagement was to fine tune underlying issues that led to the unfortunate inactivity of irrigation activities in the area.
On his part, Yerima, expressed gratitude and delight that at last officials of the ministry were at his domain to ascertain the underlying issues bedevilling the irrigation scheme.
Yerima while expressing optimism that things would be done the right way charged farmers to unite and settle all differences between them and “So commit to paying water rates as at when due so that it will complement government’s effort and yield more dividends of democracy to the people.”
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry; Danladi Adamu, assured the farmers that plans are already in top gear to harness full potentials of the dam which would be beneficial to the general public.
While commenting on insecurity and internal conflicts between the irrigation farmers, Adamu said, “unity is key, so unite and settle all issues of conflict. No business activity will thrive successfully in an atmosphere of chaos.”
He urged farmers to complement government’s efforts by paying water rates as at when due, “as it will boost Government’s morale to do more,” Adamu added
Amos Pononyamba Fabulous,
Information Officer,
Ministry of Water, Environment and Forest Resources.
