By Nefishetu Yakubu
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has urged Edo Government to increase its counterpart funding for the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND).
Dr Mohammad Abubakar, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security made the call on Wednesday in Benin during a tour of some LIFE-ND/IFAD projects in Ikpoba Okha local government area of the state.
Abubakar said the call was to capture more beneficiaries in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the LIFE-ND programme is being funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),
The programme is currently implemented in 10 local governments of Uhumwode, Ovia North-East, Orhionmwon, Ikpoba-Okha,Esan West, Esan North- East, Esan South- East, Owan West, Etsako Central and Akoko-Edo.
The programme being implemented in 100 communities in the local government areas had benefited over 4000 youths and women in the localities.
Abubakar, represented by Mr Adewoye Adeyemi, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister, noted that the call for increment in counterpart funding would ensure that the remaining eight local governments benefitted from the programme.
Abubakar, who expressed satisfaction with the success of the programme in the state, however, promised to send a proposal to the Presidency, to increase the programme budgetary allocations.
“I am in Benin to see for myself the achievements and critical challenges of the LIFE-ND programme, especially to see how far the rural women and youths in the Niger Delta had gone about the programme.
“The programme is to improve their livelihood, take care of their families and to give to the community a sense of belonging because the LIFE-ND programme is a community and rural base for youths and women.
“The programme started some years ago, and the Federal Government decided that I should visit to have first-hand information and to interact with the beneficiaries, which I have done.
“I have been to Bayelsa, Delta, and Ondo and I am now in Edo State. In Edo, I have been to three sites. I can tell you that this programme is commendable.
” I must commend the management of LIFE-ND for being able to choose these beneficiaries without knowing anybody, ” he said.
According to him, their livelihood has changed and now they are asking the government to upscale the financing such that the people in the other communities can benefit from it.
He added that, “I will send a memo to the president to increase our allocation to LIFE-ND programme so that more women and youths can be captured.
” Because, from what I have seen so far, the people have been empowered and it will also reduce food inflation in the country.”
He, however, commended the Edo government for the prompt payment of counterpart funds so far.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, a fish processor, Mrs Efe Ehanire commended the federal and state governments for the empowerment.
Ehanire said with the new technology of processing fish, their production rate had increased from between 150kilogrammes to 350 kilogrammes in a week.
The minister visited Uteh Women Fish Processors, StellaMaris Farms Limited at Uteh fish cluster and Igbito Nigeria Limited, incubation centre for Poultry production at Utesi community in Ikpoba Okha local government.(NAN)
