The Kano State Agro Pastoral Development Project (KSADP) has been awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the Watari Irrigation Scheme in order to boost the agricultural sector in the state. According to the organization, the project is worth N314 million and has been awarded to Hajaig Nigeria Limited Located in the Bagwai Local Government Area of the state. The project will include repairs of gully erosion on the dam’s embarkment, desilting of the main canal and drainages, and repairs of the night storage reservoir.
Since construction, the dam has not undergone any form of repairs, which has greatly impacted on the agricultural potential and rural development. The dam was built over 40 years ago and, according to the State Project Coordinator, Malam Ibrahim Garba Muhammad, it has the potential to support the cultivation of rice, and several irrigation crops and vegetables.
Muhammad also revealed that, in addition to the renovation of the dam, the project also aims to create 1,000 hectares of irrigation land so that more people in the locality can engage in farming activities.
