The Federal Government has awarded a N3.2 billion contract for the construction of Tada Shonga irrigation project in Tada Shonga Local Government Area of Kwara.

The project would cater for 1,000 Power Holding (PH) hectare of farmland.

Mr Abubakar Aduragba, the Managing Director of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin on Thursday.

Aduragba said that the contract was awarded to Messrs Construction Product (CPL).

''Tada Shonga irrigation project is under pilot project which will irrigate 50 hectare of land to be given to farmers after construction.

''The contract is for the construction of facilities to irrigate 1000PH hectare under phase one, which will aid the construction of the dyke to protect the farms from flooding,'' he said.

Aduragba said that the incessant flooding of farms would also be prevented by building flood embankment.

He explained that on completion, the project would generate 10,000 jobs.

''We estimate that 25,000 people will also benefit indirectly from the project, as these are people that will buy and sell rice produced from the irrigated farms. ''

Aduragba noted that the authority was also involved with the New Nigerian Farmers (Zimbabwean farmers) project at Shonga.

''There is a partnership in that area as the Federal Government is providing 30 per cent of the cost of irrigation facility, while the state is providing 70 per cent. ''(NAN)