The Bauchi State Government has called on youths in Gamawa Local Government Area to embrace dry-season irrigation farming as part of efforts to cushion the effects of last year’s devastating floods.
Bauchi is among the states most affected by annual flooding, which routinely destroys farmlands, displaces households, and undermines food production.
Speaking during a media tour on Sunday, Chairman of Gamawa LGA, Ahmad Gololo, said the council was deeply concerned about the destruction of farmlands and the looming threat of food insecurity caused by the floods.
“As a result, we supported our youths with grain seedlings and provided security to safeguard farms from herders. You know that during the dry season, animals roam freely, so we collaborated with traditional leaders and all stakeholders to ensure security,” Gololo explained.
He disclosed that the initiative had already begun to yield results, noting that irrigation farming had boosted local revenue.
“If I tell you that the council has gained ₦5bn in revenue, I am not mistaken,” he added.
Gololo emphasised that the community, working closely with the council, had now prioritised irrigation farming as a long-term solution to the challenges posed by seasonal flooding.
In 2023, severe floods ravaged several local government areas, including Gamawa, leaving thousands of farmers counting heavy losses.
In response, the Bauchi State Government launched a series of initiatives to promote irrigation farming, aiming to increase dry-season food production, stabilise local economies, and reduce dependence on rain-fed agriculture.
Experts say wider adoption of irrigation could mitigate the impacts of climate change on food security while creating new job opportunities for young people in flood-prone areas.
