₦airaland Forum

The Federal Government has been commended for its interventions so far in ensuring that farmers, processors and other players in the agricultural value-chain under the “Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase-One” known as “ATASP-1”, are supported and encouraged to contribute to food security in Nigeria.

Some farmers who have benefitted from the ATASP-1 project in Anambra and Enugu states on Saturday made the commendations when a delegation from Africa Development Bank, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Finance, Water Resources as well as ATASP-1, toured some project sites in communities located in Anambra and Enugu states.

The rural farmers hailed the Federal Government’s interventions, saying,“With ATASP-1, the realisation of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on food for all will be achievable in no distant time.”

In late 2020, the Federal Government, through the ATASP-1, awarded a contract for the concrete Lining of 22.45KM and 44.1km of Irrigation Canals in the Adani and Omor communities of Ayamelum Local Government axis of Anambra, which is a border town to Enugu State.

The ATASP-1 authorities said the massive projects aimed to ensure dry season rice farming in the communities, thereby contributing to the Federal Government’s food security agenda in the country.

The teams visited numerous project sites executed under ATASP-1 in communities such as the Adani and Omor axis of Anambra and Enugu states to evaluate the status and quality of projects and assess the impact of the numerous agricultural transformation programmes of the Federal Government being financed by the AfDB.

During the visit to the communities on Saturday, the Zonal Coordinator of ATASP-1 in Adani-Omor Zone, Dr Romanus Egba, in his remarks, said the aim of the project was, “to give the farmers a sure means of survival by empowering them with capacity building, inputs support, as well as creating an enabling environment for increase food production with economic and social/ancillary infrastructures also provided to enhance their living standard”.

The National Programme Coordinator of the programme, Dr Ibrahim Arabi, also added that ATASP-1 has proven to be a game-changer in the quest by the Federal Government to address food insecurity in the country.

Arabi expressed joy with the outpouring of testimonies from beneficiaries of the programme in the Adani-Omor Zone.

The AfDB Task Team Manager for ATASP-1, Dr Tobi Karikari, also expressed satisfaction with the achievements made so far by the FG through ATASP-1 both in the provision of infrastructure and empowerment for the farmers.

Karikari, therefore, called on the farmers to put into proper use the facilities and knowledge gathered to enable them to contribute their quota towards building a greater society.

In Adani, the team inspected the Double Span Obinna Bridge which connects the Ada Rice Irrigation Project farm command areas, feeder roads as well as recently completed canals which is already supplying water to the field for dry season farming.

The team also visited the Modern Rice Market built by ATASP-1 at Adani as well as the Modern Cottage Hospital at Asaba, also in Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State.

In Ayamelum, the team visited the Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, LAIP’s pumping station at Ifite-Ogwari, as well as ongoing Canal Lining sites at Omor as well as completed access roads.

The team also interacted with beneficiaries at Adani and Omor who took turns to testify on how the ATASP-1 trainings on Good Agronomic Practices, GAPs, and other supports had transformed their lives.

A rice farmer from Omor community, Chief Obiora Mmuoneke, testified that with ATASP-1 training and support, he was able to build a six-room bungalow train three of his children to the university levels and expand his business.

Another lead farmer in the area, Chief Cletus Obiora, while thanking ATASP-1, remarked that with the concrete lining and resuscitation of the irrigation system in the area, they are expecting to produce more tonnes of rice annually.

A rice farmer and processor from Omor community, Mrs Gloria Udemezue, said that apart from expanding her farming production from two to six hectares, she now makes more money from producing snacks from rice flour.

Udemezue said, “Under ATASP-1, we have prospered beyond our imagination. I built my own house and trained my four children in schools, among others.”

During an interactive session at Adani, the Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government, Chijioke Ezeugwu, represented by the Local Government Secretary, Casmir Adamu, commended ATASP-1, for the quality of infrastructure they built in the area and pledged that the council would continue to partner with both the Federal and state governments in ensuring the security of farmers and well utilization of the infrastructures.

A lead farmer, Chief Bernard Idu, while recalling the difficulties they faced while trying to evacuate produce from the farmlands, commended the agency for being upright in the supervision and execution of the numerous projects.

PressMyButton:
They say they're marginalized but enjoying several government programs low-key.. dey play


After God, na Tinubu 💪 God bless Nigeria

Thewrath:
But thesame people kept lieing that the land is not good for farming same way they have been lieing about crude oil and gas deposits in the SE,while drilling it low key and downplaying the production STATS!!

But I guess you can only lie for as long as you can,are they tired?

PressMyButton:
There's no state that doesn't have farming communities but unfortunately, erosion has cut off half of the east.

PressMyButton:
There's no state that doesn't have farming communities but unfortunately, erosion has cut off half of the east.

PressMyButton:
https://punchng.com/afdb-farmers-hail-fgs-agricultural-interventions-in-anambra-enugu/?

Thewrath:
But thesame people kept lieing that the land is not good for farming same way they have been lieing about crude oil and gas deposits in the SE,while drilling it low key and downplaying the production STATS!!

But I guess you can only lie for as long as you can,are they tired?

PressMyButton:
https://punchng.com/afdb-farmers-hail-fgs-agricultural-interventions-in-anambra-enugu/?

Kukutente23:
Just for info sake, ATASP is an AfDB program carried out in collaboration with FG. It started under Akinwumi Adesina, Agric minister under Jonathan in 2013. This people are good at stealing achievement and using for propaganda to feed their deluded zombies.

Thewrath:
At bolded is exactly the over exaggeration by people who have not crossed the Niger in their entire life am talking about…you will all get tired of de-marketing the east sooner or later because the SE does not care anymore wether the federal government gives it attention or not,even in another 100yrs,it will never be too late to build the SE.

Looking4Trouble:
I go soon get hypertension over Tinubu matter

PressMyButton:
There's no state that doesn't have farming communities but unfortunately, erosion has cut off half of the east.

Looking4Trouble:
Why are you helping your enemies Tinubu?

Looking4Trouble:
You go soon get hypertension over Tinubu matter

Looking4Trouble:
They don’t want Agriculture, they want free drug trafficking and massive baby industries

PressMyButton:
They say they're marginalized but enjoying several government programs low-key.. dey play


After God, na Tinubu 💪 God bless Nigeria

Looking4Trouble:
Why are you helping your enemies Tinubu?

Kukutente23:
Just for info sake, ATASP is an AfDB program carried out in collaboration with FG. It started under Akinwumi Adesina, Agric minister under Jonathan in 2013. This people are good at stealing achievement and using for propaganda to feed their deluded zombies.

Krankhead:
Nothing good has ever comes from your mouth before?