The Federal Government has flagged off the Graduate Farmers/Youth Empowerment Scheme with 60 beneficiaries shortlisted from over 200 applicants in Illah, Delta State.Also commissioning the Illah/Ebu Centre Pivot Irrigation Scheme (CPIS) a project of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), the Minister of Water Resources, Suleman Adamu said the event was yet another milestone in government’s effort to revitalize the River Basin Development Authorities which established to boost agricultural production in the country through all year round farming.

The Minister said the Graduate Youth Empowerment Scheme was the eight pilot project of the scheme so far launched with similar projects in seven states namely: Kampe Irrigation Project, Kogi State, Integrated Farming Project, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Talata Mafara Scheme, Zamfara State, Kadawa Integrated Centre, Kano State, Ogoja Irrigation Scheme, Cross River State, Agbala Integrated Farm Project, Imo State and Doma Dam Irrigation Project, Nassarawa State.

He said the scheme will continue to engage selected participants in batches of fifty, who will be trained in various agricultural activities such like: crop farming, aquaculture, dairy farming, animal husbandry, food processing and other sustainable agricultural activities.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of BORBDA, Saliu Ahmed said that the Authority had undertaken various irrigation facilities in Ewulu, Illah/Ebu both in Delta State and Ukhun Erha, Illushi-Ega-Oria both in Edo State, the Owena Multipurpose Dam, Erusu Dam, Iju/Ita-Ogbolu all in Ondo State and the Oye, Ero and Apariko Dams in Ekiti State.

According to him, the Illah/Ebu take-off phase is on a 68Ha land provided with irrigation infrastructure for both rain fed and dry season farming and an additional 35Ha for rain fed agriculture only, adding that this phase one involves 60 graduates shortlisted from over 200 applicants drawn from the communities that have provided the land.

In his remark, the Chairman of Delta Flood Plain Irrigation Farmers Association Illah/Ebu, Barr. Raymos Guanah appealed to the Federal Government through the Minister to provide motorable roads in the farms, more irrigation facilities, farm houses/steads, tractors and harvesters, improved seeds and agro-chemicals.