FADAMA III disburses N1.5bn to South-West farmers

The National Fadama Development Project III has disbursed N1.5 billion to beneficiaries of the project in community-based farmer groups in the various states of the South West Zone of the country.According to a statement by the project made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, Fadama is being implemented in 658 local government areas across the country with $36 million available and $19 disbursed.Addressing the beneficiaries and other stakeholders of the project during a joint World Bank and Federal Government supervision mission in the zone, held in Ekiti State, the Mission Team Leader, Obadiah Tohomdet, said not less than 649,367 households in the country had been impacted positively by the project.Obadiah, who is a senior communication specialist of the World Bank, added that the World Bank allocated the zone $36 million out of which the sum of $19 million had been disbursed, leaving a balance of $17million, 'so far 735 Fadama Community Associations and 7,542 Fadama User Groups have been supported in the zone through the execution of over 4,135 developmental sub-projects, some of which included oil palm and garri processing equipments, roads construction and rehabilitation, market construction and other income generating assets.'While commending the stakeholders in the zone, Mr. Tohomdet appealed to the respective state governments in the zone to ensure prompt payments of their counterpart funds to ensure speedy implementation of the project in their communities.In his contribution, the National Project Coordinator of the project, Mr Tayo Adewumi, who was represented by the Senior Community Development Specialist, Dr Victoria Agu, said the aim of the mission was to evaluate implementation status, identify weaknesses and also to consolidate performances to achieve greater success.The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Babajide Arowosaye, applauded the project performance and pledged the commitment of the state government in the prompt release of the outstanding counterpart funds of the state.He said the project was impacting positively in the lives of the people of the state.
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