Fadama: Lack Of LG Counterpart Funding, Our Bane – Coordinator

The Rivers State Coor
dinator of the FADAMA III Project, Mr Kingsley Chinda has stated that the inability of local government councils in the state to remit counterpart funds to it was hampering smooth operations of the project in the state.
The coordinator who stated this in an exclusive telephone interview with our correspondent in Port Harcourt, yesterday said the councils were not to be blamed considering what was happening at present.
He explained that though in the past, local councils were not willing to fulfil their part of counterpart funding, the situation was made worse by the present ah-hoc arrangements that have bedeviled the councils.
Chinda said although the major challenge comes from the councils, the project was surviving because the World Bank and the Federal Government are living up to expectation.
“The World Bank is doing its bit and the federal government is doing theirs also,” he said.
According to him, FADAMA in the state was presently assisting its sister agencies to enable them implement successfully all of their agricultural schemes.
He also stated that since the year was running out, FADAMA was making progress in the planting season.
“We are making optimum use of the planting season before the year runs out,” he said.
The FADAMA boss said since the FADAMA project was a community-based outfit, it was necessary for farmers to belong to cooperatives.
He said this would enable the farmers remain relevant in the process.
“It is a community building development project so if you are not within your catchment area and community you may lose out as a farmer,” he said.
He however, stated that the State Ministry of Agriculture has a good working relationship with FADAMA in the state.