By Abdallah el-Kurebe, Editor
In line with its effort to provide support to people especially in the rural areas, the International Fund for Agricultural Development-Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support program (IFAD-CASP) is to execute multi million naira projects that has direct impact to rural dwellers.
The state program coordinator of IFAD-CASP), Dr. Aminu Aliyu Dogon Daji disclosed this at Wamakko when the 4th FG/IFAD supervision mission team visited Sokoto in order to assess the level of program so far.
According to him, “about 800 hand pumps have been distributed to farmers; 1,078 tube wells, 17 hand riven boreholes and 27 livestock water drinking point were constructed, 15 solar boreholes rehabilitated, 5 vulnerable connected roads were also constructed as well as 4 motorised canoes.”
Dogon Daji told the team that all the projects were geared towards enhancing production and food security in Sokoto state and Nigeria as a whole, as well as increase the level of income so as to reduce poverty and ensure the provision of basic necessary amenities to people among rural communities.
He explained that beneficiaries of N-agripreneur who were trained on various trade that include inputs, grain milling, rice milling, rice parboiling, threshing and animal traction, were supported with materials and cash in order start with their businesses so that they could be self reliant and self sufficient and, on the other hand, help their community members.
Dogon Daji added that community development associations were also given funds to enble them execute projects within their communities.
This, according to him, ranged from N3 million to N9 million, depending on their prioritized needs.
Responding, the team leader of the team Prof. John Lenchi said they were in Sokoto for FG/IFAD supervision mission to assess the level of the program, analyse and to ensure that its objective were being achieved, as well as exchange views with community members that were main target of IFAD-CASP program.
He commended IFAD Sokoto state office for the good job as well as Skoto state government, local government and stakeholders in ensuring the realization of IFAD-CASP in the state.
The representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Egem Odey Benjamin urged community development associations to intensify efforts in buying shares through their financial services associations.
This, according to him, would no doubt boost their level of income and generate revenue.
He said the idea is to maintain their financial services even if IFAD program was over.
Newsdiaryonline reports that the team visited Wamakko, Tambuwal and Bodinga local governments areas.
