Over 3,200 hectares of rice plantation under Tada-Shonga Irrigation Scheme, supervised by Lower Niger River Basin Development, have been submerged by flood from River Niger in Tada-Shonga, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The Managing Director, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, Engineer Abubakar Tonile Aduragba made this known yesterday during the visit to the affected areas.

Aduragba called on Federal Government to release fund in order to expedite action on the completion of the 32,000 hectares in Tada-Shonga Irrigation project of the authority which had been flagged off by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

The project, according to him, is located along fertile plains of the River Niger between the villages of Tada and Shonga in Edu Local Government Area.

Aduragba explained that the main objective of Tada-Shonga Irrigation Scheme was to increase the nation's rice production through an effective managed large scale rice plantation to be sustained by this irrigation and drainage facilities, which the local populace could manage.

According to him, to boost food production, provide employment and ensure socioeconomic development that in turn improves the welfare of the people in the area and the nation at large, adding that this was made possible by sustaining all seasons rice production, storage, processing and marketing.

He said that the benefits of the project if completed would include production of 53,000 metric tones of rice annually through double cropping with market value in excess of over N3 billion.

Aduragba said that the N3.2 billion project was awarded in 2010, saying that the project was expected to last for three to four years.

The irrigation scheme is serving about 20,000 farmers in the areas.

The affected farmers called on Federal Government to come to their aid.