World Bank/FGN initiative on business-oriented agriculture a success – Team Leader


 Dr Salau Sheu, leader, World Bank/FGN Mission to Kogi on FADAMA III (AF), has said the initiative to effect a paradigm shift from subsistence to business-oriented agriculture is yielding results.
Sheu stated this at the Ire-suare production cluster (Cassava special intervention site) in Adavi Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.
He said the World Bank/FGN Mission to Kogi on FADAMA III Additional Finance’s (AF) Project Implementation Support was out to ensure implementation tallied with the work plan.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the World Bank/FGN Mission team was on a three-day visit to project sites across the state.
The team leader expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the World Bank supported projects with special focus on cassava production.
He said that the objective of the project was to use the market to drive the value chain in effecting the expected paradigm shift from subsistence to market-oriented farming with farmers approaching agriculture from a business perspective.
``So far, I think we are very pleased with what we are seeing on the ground.
``We see a lot of potential to actually move farmers from subsistence to commercial agriculture. The farmers we have visited are doing a lot about marketing.
``By the time a farmer is market-oriented, you will know that the farmer is moving towards being a commercial farmer, `` he said.
Sheu hinted that as part of the effort to ensure timely uptake of produce, the World Bank, Federal and State Governments were partnering with Union Dicon to set up a processing plant in the state within the next 18 months.
He advised farmers to always keep good records of their activities.
``It is only when you do that that you will know whether you are actually making profit or not.
``If you don’t keep records, you will only have information about the income without the cost,`` he said.
Also speaking, the Mr Tayo Adewumi, the National Project Coordinator represented by Dr Gbenga Arokoyo, also of the FADAMA III (AF) urged the farmers, as direct beneficiaries, to ensure the success of the project as it was meant to enhance their income.
He said that for every one Naira contributed by the Nigerian government, the World Bank was giving $2 (Two Dollars).
Adewumi stressed the need for sustained commitment from the state government, while noting that the support would not last forever.
NAN reports that the Implementation Support Mission team visited the Agricultural Equipment Hiring Enterprise at Apa-Bunu; Odo-Ape, Ogale, Iresuare and Ojapata production clusters, road construction and land clearing sites.
The community leaders, women groups and cluster chairmen of the various farming communities expressed their appreciation to the World Bank for the assistance to the farmers and Garri processing groups.
They also thanked World Bank for the provision of potable water and feeder roads to the communities.

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