TheMinistry of Water Resources says it is now ready to handover nine Centre PivotIrrigation Systems to Sokoto Rima River Basin Authority for agriculturedevelopment. Thebenefiting states of Kebbi and Zamfara are to receive six and three units,respectively to improve agricultural practice in line with the FederalGovernment’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. TheDirector, Irrigation and Drainage with the ministry, Elijah Aderibigbe saidthat this was also part of activities to deliver agricultural transformationand promote food security in the country. Hesaid that irrigation practice was the mainstay of agriculture development,noting that Nigeria could not rely solely on rain-fed agriculture, if it wouldmeet its policy thrust of economic development. He,however, added that other benefits of irrigated agriculture included the valuechain addition through marketing and transportation in food production. Thedirector expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for repositioningthe water resources sector, calling for a reappointment of Suleiman Adamu asthe minister.