The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has launched modern irrigation technology tagged ‘Irrigate Nigeria Project designed to revolutionising agriculture to boost food production and attract investments.

The project’s goal is to unlock Nigeria’s vast arable land through irrigation and provide market-driven support for sustainable growth and development, which is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda that seeks to empower youths and women through all season agriculture activities.

Speaking during the launch of the project held at Udubo in Gamawa Local Government Area of the state at the weekend, Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Technology Transfer, Dahiru Muhammad, explained that the initiative would be driven by a Public-Private Partnership model to attract investment, deploy smart irrigation technologies, and provide market-driven technical support.

Muhammad said farmers would receive training in advanced farming techniques, water conservation, and agribusiness development to ensure long-term sustainability.

He explained that unlike previous irrigation programmes that relied solely on government funding, the Irrigate Nigeria Project integrates smart irrigation technologies, such as solar-powered water pumps and automated irrigation systems, to enhance efficiency and minimise water wastage.

In his remarks, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, described the move as historic, saying, “NASCENI is setting the pace for a new model of large scale commercial agriculture that is transparent, well structured.”

Mohammed predicted that the Irrigate Nigeria Project, if implemented according to design, would have a multiplier effect across the agricultural value chain, both vertically and horizontally.

The governor commended NASENI under RHIDA as representatives of the government, private sector, development partners and community stakeholders for spearheading the initiative.

Mohammed said the project would see 30,000 hectares of land harvested annually in Udubo, Gamawa Local Government Area.

This, he said, will boost food availability and security through dry season farming and other agricultural activities.

The governor emphasised his administration’s commitment to modernising agriculture in Bauchi State, allocating 50,000 hectares of land in Toro LGA for various agricultural activities, adding that the project will increase farming capacity, economic growth, and food security for Nigerian farmers.