FCT Communities Laud FADAMA III Programme

Rubochi and Gbamfa communities both in Kuje Area Council  of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have commended Fadama III for bringing development to them.

Our correspondent reports that the the World Bank-assisted programme is a follow up to the first and second editions and has been implemented over a five-year period from 2008 to 2013.

The objective of the project is to increase the income of users of rural land and water resources on a sustainable basis as well as reduce poverty while boosting food security.

Members of the communities made the commendation when Fadama III Technical Assistance Mission team visited them.

“Since the intervention of Fadama in our community, development has come and our lives have improved financially.

“Our community is promoted as we now receive strangers in the community,’’ said Gloria Bitrus in Gbamfa.

Gloria, who is in the Shea butter group of the Fadama project in Gbamfa, said that profit generated from the project saw her through school as she recently graduated from Kwali Secondary School.

Also, Mrs Rhoda Ishaku, the Chairperson of widows group in Rubochi community, thanked the programme managers for intervening in their community, describing it as an ‘eye opener’.

Ishaku said following the training they received, they had acquired new skills and had improved on the method of processing their farm produce.

“When Fadama came into our community, it opened our eyes to so many new things like improved cassava and groundnut processing methods.’’

The chairperson, however, solicited for more training on the use of the processing machines provided for them by Fadama.

Sharing the same view, Mr Ijadiyi Olawale, who is the chairman of the poultry farmers group, said he was glad Fadama came to their rescue in Rubochi.

According to Olawale, the gains made from the farm are being re-invested to expand the farm and cater for his family.

However, both communities complained of lack of access road to the market to sell their goods as they travelled over 14 kms to Abaji market to sell their produce.