Farmers in Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State are expected to benefit from improved irrigation and increased agricultural activities following the official transfer of the rehabilitated Lower Anambra Irrigation Project (LAIP) Water Pumping Station to the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA).
The irrigation facility, situated in Ifite-Ogwari, was restored under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase One (ATASP-1), a programme designed to improve agricultural productivity and encourage sustainable farming practices across Nigeria.
At the handover ceremony, representatives of the Federal Government described the rehabilitation as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen food security and reduce farmers’ dependence on seasonal rainfall.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the National Programme Coordinator of ATASP-1, Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Arabi, stated that the project would significantly improve farming activities within the Anambra River Basin.
Arabi, who was represented by Engr. Usman Abdullahi, noted that the intervention had restored over 2,000 hectares of farmland in Omor and neighbouring communities, giving farmers the opportunity to cultivate crops throughout the year.
He explained that before the rehabilitation, many farmers relied mainly on rainfall, a situation that limited productivity and exposed them to losses caused by changing weather conditions. According to him, the restored irrigation infrastructure would now allow multiple planting seasons, leading to better harvests and improved income for farmers.
Speaking further on the project, the ATASP-1 Zonal Programme Coordinator for the Adani-Omor Zone, Dr. Romanus Egba, disclosed that the rehabilitation covered the repair of the pumping station as well as the lining of 40.1 kilometres of irrigation canals.
Egba said the project received financial support from the African Development Bank and the Federal Government, while the Anambra State Government provided counterpart contributions.
He commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for supporting the project through the provision of a 5,000KVA transformer to guarantee steady electricity supply to the facility.
The coordinator also acknowledged the efforts of community leaders and stakeholders, including the Chairman of AIRBDA, Senator Emma Obiajulu Anosike, Justice Paul Obidigwe, and traditional rulers in the area, for helping to ensure the successful completion of the project.
According to Egba, the pumping station had deteriorated over the years, affecting irrigation activities and disrupting farming operations within the Ayamelum agricultural corridor before the rehabilitation work was carried out.
He expressed optimism that the restored infrastructure would encourage dry-season farming, increase food production, create employment opportunities, and promote agribusiness development across the region.
Receiving the facility on behalf of AIRBDA, Senator Anosike praised ATASP-1 for restoring the abandoned irrigation infrastructure and assured farmers that the authority would ensure proper maintenance of the facility.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Ifite-Ogwari, HRH Igwe Alphonsus Ofuebe (Ogidiga), described the rehabilitation as an important development that would improve rice farming and boost agricultural productivity in Ayamelum.
More than 200 farmers, alongside officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and representatives of the Omor Kingdom, attended the ceremony.
