The failure of the Anambra State government to pay the counterpart fund for agricultural programme organised by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/ IFAD-VCDP), would adversely affect production of rice and cassava products in the state this year
A reliable source at FGN/IFAD- VCDP who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent in Awka that the Anambra State Government last paid her counterpart fund for the FGN/ IFAD-VCDP projects in 2018. The source said, “This is the fifth year running that the Anambra Government has not paid her counterpart fund for the FGN/ IFAD-VCDP programme.
“The state first paid the counterpart fund of N94.4 million in 2015; and in 2016, it paid N94.8 million, due to additional financing between 2021 and 2023 the money rose to N118 million yearly, implying that it is owing about N590 million.
The FGN/IFAD-VCDP pro- gramme is aimed at enhancing on a sustainable basis the incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava. FGN-VCDP, an international agency, is the major body funding the programme while the federal and state governments pay counterpart funds.
The project which began in 2015 is expected to end in 2024 and it is envisaged that the project might be extended due to its obvious impact. The programme has impacted positively on the food security, job and wealth creation in the state following statistics made public by the agency.
For instance, Anambra farmers stunned the nation some years back when they recorded a quantum leap from 2.5 ton per hectare for rice/cassava 9 ton per hectare in rice production to 6 ton per hectare and cassava 30 ton per hectare in 2015 respectively.
FGN-VCDP/IFAD Anambra State Internal Mid-term Progress Report (June 1, 2019 to October, 2022) revealed that farmers in the state have continued to improve their yield in cassava and rice making the state a force to reckon with in the food production areas in the country.
Available operational records further revealed that Anambra hit 210, 000 metric tons of rice production in the year 2016. The state also produced more than 540, 000 metric tons of rice in 2019 with the projection of 791, 000 metric tons from 2020 and beyond.
According to official records, “262 rice farmers comprising 198 female and 64 male were supported to cultivate 214 hectares of rice under the Rural Poor Stimulus Facility of CO- VID-19. “About 8, 500kg of certified rice seed, 460 bags of 50kg NPK fertilizers, 230 bags of 50kg Urea, 250 litres of selective and nonselective herbicides were provided to farmers to cushion the effects of covid-19”, the official document revealed.
Again, 396 cassava farmers groups consisting of 1, 875 adult male, 2025 adult female, 664 male youth, 634 fe- male youth deposited N10, 116, 982 to pay for matching grant for 2022 cassava wet season in 2022.
The record also showed that, 608 rice farmers groups consisting of 1975 adult males, 1866 adult females, 1522 male youth and 1026 female youth deposited N16, 801, 000 to pay for matching grant support for 2022 rice wet season production.
However, there are indications that these gains already recorded in agro business might nose dive if the state fails to act fast in fulfilling her financial obligation for the project. The state contribution is for running costs mainly used for the payment of staff salaries and allowances and other sundry administrative expenses.
Due to the delay in the payment, FGN/IFAD-VCDP staff in Anambra area owed 13 months salaries and other allowances, a situation that has negatively affected the work attitude of staff and by extension programme implementation.