Delta earmarks $4m for FADAMA III

Delta State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) has earmarked the sum of $4 million to finance the implementation of FADAMA III project in five local government areas of the state.
The councils include Udu, Bomadi, Burutu, Warri South and Warri South-West, for a five year period, targeting 49,500 beneficiaries.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Misan Ukubeinje, said N6.2 million will go to God Bless FADAMA Community Associations (FCA) and Okpala with FADAMA Users’ Groups (FUGs), N5.4 million to Izako FCA and Erhiephior with 10 FUGs, N3.1 million to Ugbe Progressive FCA and Okolor Inland with seven FUGs, all in Udu council area, while N6.7 million to Okoloba FCA in Bomadi Local Government Area with 10 FUGs.
Disbursing a cheque of over N21 million to beneficiaries during the flag-off of the project to 37 FADAMA Users’ Groups (FUGs) in four FADAMA Community Associations (FCAs) at Otor- Udu , in Udu Local Government Area of the state, the Commissioner said the empowerment would not only enhance livelihood but gives youths and women oriented-results.
The Commissioner, who acknowledged that agriculture remains the largest employer of labour in the state, with about 75 per cent of its people depending on it for their livelihoods, said the sector has contributed approximately 13 per cent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) after oil which is 79 per cent.
He recalled that the state in the past approved the training of Master-Bakers and has through its Directorate of Science and Technology collaborated with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), saddled with the responsibility of isolating / researching and showcasing the existing raw materials to realize the blending of cassava flour mixed with wheat flour to make Cassava bread.
While he said the flag-off was to formally commence the disbursement, he assured that any group that complies with the project’s requirements would benefit soon.
He warned the beneficiaries from going against the donor intension but emulate the compliance stance of the state in its prompt payment of counterpart funds, even as he observed that Delta State Government has continued to wax stronger in its determination to diversify its economoy from over-dependence on oil by making the state the food basket of the nation.
Corroborating him, the state Project Coordinator, Mr. Abanum Anthony, urged the beneficiaries to put the monies into good use so that during the next harvest period all FADAMA participants would have enhanced their farm income.