THE World Bank, the African Development Bank, AfDB, in conjunction with Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP, of Anambra State have embarked on a work plan to build access roads and markets in rural areas leading to major farmlands.

Speaking at a sensitisation programme at ldemili South Council headquarters, Joe Onyejekwe Ojoto, the Anambra State coordinator of RAAMP, said that Anambra government had forwarded the data of all the rural farm roads to World Bank US.

He said that the work plan was to maximize agricultural production in the state.

Onyejekwe said that it was discovered that many food crops were wasting because there were no access roads to farms in the hinterlands.

He said that people who manage to get to the farms purchase produce at a high costs, there by discouraging farmers from further investing or maximising their farm produce.

Onyejekwe said that it was former President Olusegun Obasanjo that initiated the vision to build farm roads in all the states in the federation.

He added that not less than 8.9 billion dollars were lost yearly in the country due to under harnessed farm produce.

“Our working governor, Willie Obiano saw the project at federal level and decided to appoint me to ensure that Anambra attracted the world Bank and ADB to help to develop our agricultural sector,” Onyejekwe said.

“World Bank and ADB have already selected the ones that meet their qualifications to be built without interference of any person from the state.

“They will come up designs and check the quality of roads to be constructed,” he added.

The state coordinator said that three communities from Idemili South were selected. These include Awkaetiti, Nnokwa and Alor and Obosi from Idemili North.

The sensitisation programme was attended by the traditional rulers, presidents-general, youth leaders, Women leader and Market leaders from the benefitting communities.

Onyejekwe explained that the essence of the visit was for communities to properly conduct themselves, support the project by co-operating with the government in bringing the desired development which would create jobs for Ndi Anambra.

Don Unachukwu, the transition committee chairman, IDSLGA thanked the project team for choosing three communities out of seven in the LGA for the first phase of the project.

Unachukwu assured RAAMP that the communities in the LGA would co-operate with them, pleading with them to engage the youths during the road construction and give contracts to eligible local contractors in the various communities.

– Jun. 26, 2018 @ 16:59 GMT |