From Abdullahi Adamu Gusau
Zamfara state office of Climate Adaptation and Agric -Business Support Programme (CASP-IFAD) is exploring ways to complete stalled projects affected by suspension of financial subvention from contributing agencies.
The State Programme Officer (SPO) of the agency, Bachiri S/Fulanin Bungudu disclosed this at the validation meeting on sustainability and expansion of Zamfara state Climate Change Adaptation and Agric -Business Support Programme held recently in the state.
The SPO reiterated his commitment to improve and bring more positive development in the agro-allied sector of the state economy by exploring all possibilities. Bachiri Sarkin Fulani Bungudu noted that the aim of the programme was to validate the effort made in developing the concept for the economic benefits of Zamfara people.
He noted that following his appointment recently by the state Governor, Dauda Lawal as the State Programme Officer, he reviewed the activities of the organization and discovered that the agency had implemented many viable programmes in Zamfara.
” I appreciate the effort, but some of the the projects have not been completed and it is now up to us in Zamfara to decide whether we are going to close our offices and wait till when IFAD CASP comes back or design another programme and approach the state government and other funding agencies to give us financial support to enable us complete the projects for the benefits of people in the state.”
He explained that under the programme, the first step taken was to inaugurate state steering committee of the department so that senior management team could advise members and guide us and question us on the operation of the organization.
He however revealed that the second step was s to develop a concept based on the experience the staff have gained through working with state government and the support they received through IFAD CASP and other donors partners and agencies.
Bachiri Sarkin Fulanin Bungudu further stated that now that a comprehensive concept had been developed, part of the recommendation was to call a validation workshop with active participation of all the relevant stakeholders both in government and private agencies. He therefore appreciated the turn out as very impressive and encouraging.
Important personalities who graced the occasion included, representative of ministry of finance, ministry for Agriculture, ministry for women Affairs, ministry for local government and chieftaincy Affairs, ministry for Health, representative to national insurance among others.
The validation workshop witnessed distribution of questionnaires and other materials seeking intervention and other improved areas on agro-allied business activities in the state.
