NIRC completes well drilling at BBT farms

DODOMA: THE National Irrigation Commission (NIRC) has completed the drilling of wells at Ndogowe and Chinangali farms under the Building a Better Tomorrow (BBT) project to advance irrigation farming.

Speaking on the achievement, over the weekend, the Acting Assistant Director for Research and Technology Promotion in the Design and Research Department, Engineer Naomi Mcharo, said the Commission has drilled a total of 72 wells at BBT project farms in Dodoma Region.

She explained that out of the total, 42 wells were drilled at Chinangali Farm and 30 at Ndogowe Farm.

Eng Mcharo said the initiative is part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that farmers embrace reliable irrigation farming instead of depending solely on rainfall.

“The completion of this exercise is a crucial step in strengthening modern and productive agriculture. The next phase will involve drilling wells in other regions including Tabora, Singida and Manyara,” she said.

ALSO READ: BBT programme benefits 120,000 youth

She added that the availability of the wells will help increase crop production, raise farmers’ income and enhance food security at both household and national levels.

According to her, the government’s target is to drill 67,500 wells in 184 district councils over the next eight years, with the project directly benefiting more than 100,000 people.

Each farmer is expected to irrigate an average of 2.5 acres.

Meanwhile, in the current financial year, the National Irrigation Commission plans to drill 1,300 wells. Of these, 70 will be drilled in 16 regions, including Coast, Tanga, Mara, Songwe, Singida, Manyara, Dodoma, Lindi, Mtwara, Kigoma, Geita, Morogoro, Simiyu, Ruvuma and Njombe, through contractors, while the remaining wells will be drilled using machines purchased by the Commission.