Commissioner Tasks FG On Farmers’ Health

The Anambra State Commissioner for Agriculture and Export, Mr Afam Mbanefo, has urged the Federal Government to promote the health and safety of Nigerian farmers so as to boost their productivity.
In an e-mailed statement obtained by The Tide correspondent recently and issued by the media consultant for World Bank on FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF), in Abuja, recently, Mbanefo made the call when he declared open the World Bank/Federal Government mid-term meeting on FADAMA III AF Project in Awka, Anambra State.
“To produce good and healthy agricultural produce, the farmers good health is paramount FADAMA III AF and other agricultural projects should also give priority to health and safety of farmers”, he said.
He underscored the need to strengthen community sensitization efforts, adding that this would have greater impact on the overall project implementation of FADAMA III AF.
In his remark, the Task Team Leader, Dr Tunji Oredipe, who was represented by Mr Peter-Ajibaiye, said that the mid-term review meeting was aimed at examining the project implementation processes, with a view to fine-tuning those aspects which ought to be adjusted.
He said that plans to boost the country’s food security could only be achieved if farmers’ safety was accorded a priority under FADAMA III AF project.
He pledged that the World Bank “safeguard officials” in his team would examine the safety and environmental impact of the farmers activities.