The Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development (FGN/IFAD) has called on the Anambra government to adopt a regulatory framework for all Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) projects to ensure their sustainability.
Dr Fatima Aliyu, the National Programme Coordinator of FGN/IFAD VCDP, made the call during a one-day Policy Dialogue on Institutionalising Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Frameworks for Market Infrastructures in Awka on Monday.
Aliyu was represented by Mrs Vera Onyeaka-Onyilo, the Knowledge Management and Communications Advisor at FGN/IFAD VCDP.
FGN/IFAD, which recommended Operations and Maintenance (O&M) for market infrastructure and feeder roads, also called on Local Government Councils to localise the recommendations in their various domains through the passage of a legislative framework.
She listed budgetary integration, scheduled preventive maintenance, restructuring, training of operations and maintenance teams, public-private co-funding and community early-warning systems as imperative.
“I implore local government chairmen, who are our link to the grassroots, to support the passage of Council bye-laws that formalise Facility Management Committees.
“They should also protect market infrastructure from encroachment or neglect. IFAD-VCDP remains dedicated to helping smallholder farmers build prosperous and resilient agribusiness,” she said.
Also speaking, Dr Ben Odoemena, the Commissioner for Agriculture, commended FGN/IFAD VCDP for the high impact of its programmes, which he described as a gateway to agribusiness.
Odoemena said the Anambra Agricultural Strategy Plan would be made public in a few weeks after extensive discussions with critical stakeholders.
He said Anambra was driving towards agro-industrialisation that would focus on food security, with extensive engagement to ensure availability, affordability and accessibility in the right form to enhance nutrition.
Dr Deborah Onyefulu, the State Programme Coordinator of FGN/IFAD VCDP in Anambra, said the engagement was aimed at strengthening ownership, accountability and institutional commitment towards the sustainability of VCDP-supported investments and interventions.
Onyefulu expressed gratitude to the Anambra government, development partners and critical stakeholders for their continued support and collaboration.
The State Programme Coordinator, who spoke on the Gender Action Learning System and O&M, called for a shift from dialogue to action, ownership and sustainability.
Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, civil society, Local Government Councils and farmers also made brief presentations at the event.
