The Federal Government has inaugurated the Combined National Project Steering Committees to consider the approval of the 2021 Annual Work plan and Budget of the three projects under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, on Tuesday in Abuja, inaugurated the committees, made up of 24 members who were picked from the Agric Ministry, Ministry of Finance, Bank of Agriculture, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and among others.
In his remarks, Nanono said that the inauguration has marked a significant milestone in the implementation of Development partner support projects in Agricultural sector.
The three projects are: Value Chain Development Program (VCDP), Livelihood Improvement and Family Support Enterprise (LIFE-ND) and Climate Change Adaption and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP).
Nanono mandated the committees to consider and approve the 2021 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) of these projects.
He said, ‘’It is worthy of note to acknowledge that the collaboration and partnership arising from the international development /donor cooperation have yielded positive result in the development of the agricultural sector.
‘’The International Fund for Agricultural Development has a huge portfolio amounting to US$366.66 million which are aligned with the agricultural priorities and mandate of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
‘’The projects are implemented in rural poor communities nationwide, directly targeting 250,000 vulnerable smallholder farmers.
