NATIONAL Program Coordinator of the agricultural initiative otherwise known as FADAMA III, Mr. Tayo Adewunmi, had said that the programme is necessary for the attainment of the objectives of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
Mr. Adewumi made the remarks this in the historic city of Umuahia, in Abia State, during the 7th Joint World Bank/FGN Supervision Mission in the South East zone.
Represented by Mr Sam Alabi, the Task Team Leader, the coordinator described the FADAMA program as an active player in the drive to transform the nation’s economy.
According to him, no fewer than 708,000 Fadama users had been registered under the ATA.
“The project has reached out to many public and private institutions in the agricultural value chain,” Mr. Adewunmi said in prepared remarks.
“The journey has been challenging since 2009 when it started, but there has been increased productivity across board.
“It is imperative to note that the programme has increased income as well as reduced poverty among the rural populace,” he added.
Adewumi appealed to FADAMA User Groups (FUGs) to keep adequate records of their activities for the programme to remain sustainable.
He said that the session was also meant to discuss the sustainability of the programme when the World Bank sponsorship was withdrawn.
Earlier, Dr. Ezinne Otuka, the Abia Programme Coordinator, said that the positive impact of Fadama was felt across rural communities in the 17 local government areas of the state.
Otuka said that the programme targeted unemployed youths and women, including widows, persons with disabilities as well as vulnerable groups.
She said that the project had funded 1,069 Fadama User Groups (FUGs) in different economic activities.
“Our farmers have advanced from primary production to the stage of value addition, thereby enhancing income generation capacity.”
Otuka said that the programme had also employed 68 graduates as community facilitators, while jobs had been created through project implementation.