The International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) has recommended the establishment of operation and maintenance committees at the local government councils to sustain infrastructure provided by it at the grassroots.
Mrs Abiola Sobukola, Acting Programme Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP, Ogun, made the call at a policy dialogue and stakeholders’ engagement forum held on Thursday in Abeokuta.
Sobukola also canvassed institutionalising budgetary provisions for the committees to facilitate proper maintenance of IFAD-VCDP-provided infrastructure in the LGAs.
She said that the suggestion became necessary as IFAD was gradually winding down its activities and preparing to hand over the infrastructure to relevant stakeholders.
The coordinator noted that local governments needed to budget for infrastructure maintenance to ensure the continued use and sustainability of facilities provided to farmers.
“The local governments will now take responsibility for maintaining the facilities for the continued use of farmers in their respective areas.
“We are encouraging local governments to set aside funds in their budgets for maintenance so that the infrastructure does not become moribund,” she said.
Sobukola said that the Operation and Maintenance Committees, when constituted, would comprise representatives of facility users, liaison officers, local government engineers and other relevant officials.
She urged local governments to provide technical support to farmers, particularly in areas beyond their capacity.
Also speaking, Mrs Vera Onyeaka-Onyilo, IFAD-VCDP Knowledge Management Adviser, said the programme had impacted more than 13,200 rural actors across eight local government areas in the state since 2015.
She said that rice yields had increased from 1.5 metric tonnes to 3.1 metric tonnes, while cassava yields rose from 18 metric tonnes to 33 metric tonnes.
Onyeaka-Onyilo said that the programme had provided processing centres, aggregation centres, feeder roads, bridges, culverts and solar-powered facilities, among others.
She expressed concern over sustaining the facilities after the programme’s exit and called for their integration into local government structures.
“Now, the challenge is, as the VCDP programme is winding down, how do we prevent these hard-won assets from deteriorating?
“How do we maintain and sustain them?” Onyeaka-Onyilo said.
The adviser called for specific budgetary provisions and the inclusion of local government engineers in the proposed committees to guarantee the sustainability of the infrastructure in place.
Also, Mr Olukayode Alebiosu, Local Government Extension Officer, Obafemi-Owode LGA, described the initiative as crucial to sustaining IFAD-VCDP infrastructure.
Alebiosu commended IFAD-VCDP for supporting farmers through the provision of inputs, infrastructure, capacity building and youth empowerment.
He said that the inclusion of local government engineers and Directors of Agriculture in the proposed committees would enhance the sustainability of the facilities.
“This is an amazing policy because we are talking about sustainability and maintenance.
“By bringing local government engineers on board, the infrastructure can be properly handed over to the local government for maintenance and continuity,” he said.
Alebiosu urged local governments to include the maintenance of VCDP infrastructure in their annual budgets to facilitate prompt repairs and rehabilitation.
He expressed confidence that institutionalising Operation and Maintenance committees would ensure the continuity of VCDP interventions beyond the lifespan of the programme.
