Business
Rivers FADAMA Disburses N180m To Farmers
The Rivers State Fadama III projects Co-ordinator, Prince Kingsley Amadi, has said that about N180 million was disbursed to farmers in the 13 participating local government councils of the state between 2009 and 2011.
Break down of the figure indicates that N10 million went to Ahoada West Loca Government Area, Ahoada East had N14 million, Emohua, N26 million topping the list, followed closely by Gokana, N26 million and Ikwerre LGA with N21 million.
Others are Akuku-Toru, N7 million, Oyigbo, N18 million, Omuma, N10 million, Etche, N13 million, Eleme, 320,000, Degema, N274,000, Okrika, N1.2 million, and Khana N720,000.
Prince Amadi stated this last Thursday in a press briefing in Port Harcourt, organised to 350 FADAMA groups in the LGAs in the category of Crop – 180 FADAMA users groups, livestock 40, fisheries 45, processing 42 FADAMA groups and rural infrastructure 43. He noted that a total of 210 of sub-projects embarked upon by the respective FADAMA user groups had been completed, while 144 were on-going.
According to him, FADAMA III is a federal government programe, assisted by World Bank to develop the agricultural sub-sector of the economy and to be implemented using community-driven development approach within the period of five year, 2008-2013, with a view to increasing the incomes of the rural dwellers, increase food production, reduce poverty level and create employment opportunities for the youths and women.
He said that the project was hinged on five components which include capacity building which will improve their skills and get them informed on modern methods. Others, he said, are research and support which the ADP will provide them. Another component is asset acquisition which will enable them increase their productivity as well as project administration, monitoring and evaluation to assure compliance and proper utilization of assets and inputs. The last component is small-scale productive infrastructure investment which encourages farmers to enhance rural infrastructure like roads, culverts, market, bore-hole, bridges among others.
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.
