By Uzo Ugwunze
Beneficiaries of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase-One, ATASP-1 in Enugu and Anambra States have commended the management for its great impacts towards Federal Government’s efforts to tackle food insecurity in Nigeria through strategic infrastructural and capacity development and support for rural farmers, processors and other agricultural value chain actors.
The beneficiaries made the commendation when a delegation from Africa Development Bank, Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), Ministry of Finance, Water Resources as well as ATASP-1 toured some project sites executed by the programme in Adani-Omor Zonal Program Implementation Unit.
Some of the project sites visited by the high-powered delegation were the recently completed Concrete-Lining of 22.45KM Ada Rice Irrigation system at Adani, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu state which is billed to facilitate dry season rice farming in the areas early next year.
The team also inspected the Double-Span Obinna Bridge, also built under ATASP-1 to provide access to the irrigation farm command area, as well as the modern rice market at Adani as well as Modern Cottage Hospital at Asaba, also in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State.
A lead farmer, Chief Bernard Idu who spoke on behalf of farmers in the area, commended ATASP-1 for the massive investment on the moribund irrigation, the Obinna Bridge and other projects in the area. He narrated the difficulties and huge costs that farmers experienced while trying to evacuate produce from the farmlands after the old baily bridge collapsed until ATASP-1 came to their rescue.
“We are happy. In short, we don’t know how to thank ATASP-1 for what they have done for us. Our farmers are now preparing to start dry season farming because we now have a concrete canal to supply us water. We also have a world class bridge across Obinna River giving us all year round access to irrigation farm command areas.
Chairman of Uzo-Uwani local government, Enugu, Hon. Barr. Chijioke Ezeugwu, also commended ATASP-1 for the quality of infrastructure they built in the area.
Ezeugwu, represented by Local Government Secretary, Mr. Casmir Adamu, pledged that the council would continue to partner with the Federal and state governments in ensuring the security of farmers and well utilization of the infrastructures.
While visiting the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, LAIP’s pumping station at Ifite-Ogwari, the ongoing Concrete Lining of 44.1km long canal as well as completed access roads at Omor, the team also interacted with beneficiaries in the area who took turns to testify how the ATASP-1 trainings on Good Agronomic Practices, GAPs, and other supports had transformed their lives.
Chief Obiora Peter Mmuoneke, a rice farmer/processor from Omor community, testified that with ATASP-1 trainings and supports, he was able to build a six room bungalow and train three of his children to university level and expanding his business.
Mrs. Gloria Udemezue, a rice farmer and processor from Omor community said that apart from expanding her farming production from two (2) to six (6) hectares she now make more money from producing snacks from rice flour. According to her, under ATASP-1, she has prospered beyond her imagination, building her own house and training her four children in schools, among others.
A lead farmer in the area, Chief Cletus Obiora while thanking ATASP-1, remarked that the Concrete linning and resuscitation of the Irrigation system, they are expecting to produce more tonnes of rice annually.
“The canal being lined and the pumping station that is getting ready to start operation is another testimony. I want to use this opportunity to thank ATASP-1 and AfDB.
“I wish to also express our gratitude that technology in cropping has been introduced. If we want to bring out our produce from our farms, the roads are there, unlike before when most farmers, their rice usually spoil in the field because there was no road. It was like that until ATASP-1 intervened’, Obiorah said.
Earlier in a remark, the Zonal Coordinator of ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zone, Dr. Romanus Egba said the aim of the project was to give the farmers a sure means of survival by empowering them with capacity building, inputs supports, as well as creating enabling environment for increase food production with economic and social/ancillary infrastructures also provided to enhance their living standard.
The National Program Coordinator, Dr. Ibrahim Arabi, also added that ATASP-1 has proven to be a game-changer in the quest by federal government to address food Insecurity in the country. Arabi expressed joy with the outpouring of testimonies from beneficiaries of the program in Adani-Omor Zone.
The AfDB’s Task Team Manager of ATASP-1, Dr. Tobi Karikari, also expressed satisfaction with the achievements made so far by the FG through ATASP-1 both in provision of Infrastructure and empowerment for the farmers. He therefore called on the farmers to put into proper use the facilities and knowledge gathered, to enable them contribute their quota towards building a greater society.
The delegation had earlier paid courtesy visits to the Enugu State’s Secretary to Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia as well as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, Hon. Patrick Ubru where they received commendations as well as assurances of continuous supports.
The team also paid a courtesy visit to the Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Forster Ihejiofor where issues bothering on utilization and sustainability of ATASP-1 projects as well as payment of outstanding counterpart funding for the project were discussed.