By Musa Harun
Engr. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, the newly appointed Managing Director of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), has pledged to implement reforms across agriculture, water resource management, and youth empowerment.
Bichi spoke while addressing staff of the Authority shortly after taking over on Wednesday in Kano.
He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Water Resource Management, 20% boost in water-use efficiency through Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and optimized irrigation systems.
“Agricultural Expansion, Increase coverage from 54,000 to 240,000 hectares, aiming to raise paddy rice production from 216,000 tonnes to 1 million tonnes.
“Dam Rehabilitation, Enhance dam water retention capacity via de-silting and other remedial actions.
“Crop Yield Improvement, 30% year-on-year increase in yields through modern farming practices and improved irrigation technology.
” Community Satisfaction, Target 85% satisfaction among local stakeholders through inclusive planning and comprehensive basin management strategy.
Youth Empowerment
The administration will focus on training at least 5,000 youths across Kano, Jigawa, and Bauchi States in areas such in Modern Irrigation,Beekeeping,Horticulture,
Greenhouse,Farming,Hydroponics and Fodder Production
He explained that the training program will cover Technical Skills, Irrigation installation and maintenance ,Sustainable Agricultural Practices. Soil conservation and crop rotation
Others are Entrepreneurship Business management and market access,Community Engagement, Cross-cultural knowledge-sharing and cooperation.
The Authority will work with:
Bank of Agriculture (BOA),
-National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), NASENI and
Ministry for Livestock to support farmers and trainees.
The new leadership also pledged support for Her Excellency Mrs. Remi Tinubu’s “Every Home a Garden” initiative.
The Managing Director outlined plans for improved staff welfare and transparent postings, anchored on merit and bureaucratic standards.
The goal is to create a supportive environment that boosts morale, increases productivity, and fosters trust among employees.