The Managing Director, Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Saliu Ahmed, said the authority has concluded plan for the construction of a dam in Auchi aimed at boosting irrigation farming in the area.
Engr. Ahmed said this yesterday at Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, during a courtesy call on the Otaru of Auchi. He said irrigation remained the only way to ensure all year round farming of crops for both domestic consumption and export
According to him, the medium term strategy of Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority was to continually increase the arable land with irrigation facilities for an all-year cropping, thereby creating jobs for more people who would directly and indirectly be involved in farming.
“Our mandate includes the development and management of surface and underground water resources through the construction of dam, irrigation and drainage system; provision of potable water; and construction and maintenance of infrastructure such as road bridges,” he said.
Ahmed said the authority would intervene in the water problem in Auchi with the rehabilitation of some facilities within the municipal water infrastructure through the expansion of the head works and extension of the reticulation lines.
Responding, the Otaru of Auchi, Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III, assured the authority of the community’s support for the project.