The Anambra State Government is set boost agriculture in the state with the construction of a N3.9 billion lower irrigation project in Ayamelum local government area.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Nnamdi Onukwuba, while handing over the project to the contractors on Friday, said when completed farmers can cultivate three times annually.
According to him, effective utilisation of the 3,850 plots on the farm will change the livelihood of the farmers.
Onukwuba, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Stephanie Keri-Uzo, urged the contractor, a Chinese firm, Zhonghao Construction, to ensure timely completion of the project.
The commissioner said the 40km concrete canal lining was attracted to the state government sequel to Gov. Willie Obiano’s regular payment of counterpart contributions toward such a project.
He commended the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda Special Project (ATASP) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) for funding the project.
The Zonal Project Coordinator of ATASP, Mr Romanus Egba, urged the host communities to provide maximum security for the contractor as well as ensure the security of equipment and materials of the firm.
Egba urged the contractor to carry the community along in the project by employing them as ad-hoc workers.
