Zauro polder project facts for kids
The Zauro polder project is a big plan to help farmers grow more food in Kebbi State, Nigeria. It's an irrigation project, which means it's all about bringing water to farmland. The project is located in the Rima River floodplain, which is the flat land next to the river that sometimes gets flooded.
This project is important because Kebbi State doesn't get a lot of rain each year, only about 800 millimeters. The weather is also quite hot, usually around 26°C, but it can get as hot as 40°C between April and June. Because of this, it's hard to farm all year round. The Zauro polder project aims to use the extra water from the rainy season to help farmers grow crops even during the dry season. This is done by building dams and special water systems.
Project History
The idea for the Zauro polder project began a long time ago, in 1969. The government of Kebbi State and the federal government's agriculture and water ministries started planning it. However, the project has faced many delays over the years.
Why the Project Took So Long
For a long time, not much work was done on the project. For example, by July 1995, there was still no progress.
Leaders in Nigeria have often talked about finishing the project:
- In March 2003, President Olusegun Obasanjo promised to complete the project while he was campaigning.
- In October 2006, the federal government and Kebbi State government signed an agreement to start the project. At that time, it was expected to cost about N15 billion.
- In May 2008, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua ordered work to begin right away on the first part of the project. By then, the cost had increased to over N18.5 billion.
- In January 2009, Kebbi State governor Sa'idu Dakingari also said that work would start soon.
