Cross River Basin Development Authority Test Run Solar-Powered Irrigation Pumps

Cross River Basin Development Authority Test Run Solar-Powered Irrigation Pumps

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, in collaboration with the Cross River Basin Development  Authority, launched a new water source on December 22nd to power agricultural products at the CRBDA Integrated farm during this dry season.

The event started with an opening prayer, and next was a remark from the director overseeing agricultural services at the Cross River Basin Authority, Mr. Ita Arira.

Mr. Ita, who has been working with the authority since 2000, said the ministry is usually battling every year during the four months of no rain. It\’s now an issue that has resulted in the question “What will we do?” An idea to cover up these months of no water naturally came up, which is creating a source that will bring water whenever there’s no rain. That’s getting a pump to store water, but the challenge was getting diesel to keep these machines active so they’ll be safe to use on a daily basis. Therefore, lots of money is used for diesel.

The management of cross river basin development Authority took it upon themselves to checkmate another source of electricity to regulate diesel buying, an idea that today everyone is here to see how it works (a solar power irrigation pump) was suggested. Therefore, we have created a pump that will be gasoline-zero.

Engr. Bassey Nkposong, Managing Director of Cross River Basin Authority, was warmly represented by the finance administrator, Dr. Jackson Johnson, who welcomed everyone during the launch and appreciated the MD for seeing this project as a unique tool to sustain the growth of our product and also equipping farmers who are beneficial to this technological knowledge.

Dr. Jackson further reminds the people that every project taken today is to work with the renewed hope agenda of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, HE Ahmed Tinubu. The irrigation pump that is going to be launched today will help the food supply of this country to be steady as it will boost production and reduce expenses.

On this note, we are expected to walk around the area where this solar pump is planted, led by our desk officer, as she will give an explanation of how it works.

Khadijad suberu Asst. Chief Geologist and Dr. Ayuk Enow Agronomist Consultant led everyone to the site where the solar pump is planted to serve its purpose. Khadijad explained the process at which the machine works, from the section of switching it on to the process of channeling the water to the reservoir where it’s been stored for use.

Dr. Ayuk explains the process of expelling the used water from the ponds and how to channel the water from the reservoir to other ponds to enable the fish to have fresh water.

He explains the different channels to switch the already-used water from the ponds, either for plant growth as manure or to be sent out to the soil around the farm.

The solar pump is a machine that delivers water all around the farm, serving different purposes to keep the animals and plants healthy and fresh with good water.

Mrs. Comfort Antin Ad. Finance gave the vote of thanks. She encouraged the farmers on the farm to see this development as a step toward proper agricultural growth and a milestone toward proper food production with less funding.