Business
IFAD Plans $70m Project For Nigeria
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is developing a 70-million-dollar value chain project for 16 states in Nigeria, its president, Dr Kanayo Nwanze, has said.
Nwanze told newsmen on Sunday in Rome that the project aimed to revolutionalise agriculture among peasants and other agriculturists and help to boost rural economy and reduce poverty.
He said that the value chain project was the logical sequence to all that had been done in the past as it would create opportunities for farmers to increase their income.
He stressed that it would also benefit those who added value to farm produce from production, processing, marketing and to consumption.
He said that IFAD had prepared comprehensively for the project which would serve as a litmus test of how successful the Fund had been.
He added that Nigeria had the capacity to feed its people because of the diversity of its ecology, resources, good climatic conditions and endowment in agriculture input.
He said that Nigeria needed to maximise its agriculture potential by installing the right policies and building on its human capital.
“IFAD supported FADAMA I and it was so successful that the World Bank came in and supported FADAMA II and it received recognition by the World Bank as one of the best country projects they had supported.
“FADAMA III, which is a much larger project was supported wholly by the World Bank and that is a success story.
“The other success story is the root and tuber development project; the cassava programme in Nigeria and other West African countries has been the most successful projects to the extent that Nigeria became the largest producer of cassava.
“There are the opportunities for us to make good use of cassava, not only for food, but for fuel, energy and bi-products of cassava.
“These opportunities already exist and with the new emphasis on agriculture as the foundation for economic growth and food security, there would be a transformation.
Investigations by reporters showed that IFAD had financed eight projects and programmes in Nigeria since 1985 with a total commitment of 153.3 million dollars.
Some of the ongoing projects are Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN), Community Based National Resources Management Programme in the Niger Delta and Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme.
Nwanze said that Nigeria was the largest recipient of IFAD support both in terms of loans and grants in West and Central Africa.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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