Evaluation of National Fadama III Development Project

Chukuemeka Robert Amadi,H Dennis Nyanwanyu,Emeka Nkoro,Nyekachi N Amadi

doi:10.36096/brss.v1i1.93

Chukuemeka Robert Amadi, H Dennis Nyanwanyu + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.36096/brss.v1i1.93

Copy DOI

Abstract

Agriculture is the bedrock for combating poverty and developing rural areas. This motivated government policies on agriculture. This paper evaluated the performance of Fadama III in addressing food productivity and rural development in Rivers State. A critical review of secondary materials from Rivers State National Fadama III Development Programme Coordinating Office Report on implementation of National Fadama III projects in Rivers State formed the methodology for the study. It revealed the concept, approaches and implementation process of economic interest groups and government financial commitments to various farming activities in the local government areas. There were remarkable improvements in rural development in the participated local government areas. The assessment further revealed committed efforts by officers and management of the program which ensured effective implementation of rural infrastructure in participated communities. It is recommended that expenditure control measures adopted by the management of fadama program in Rivers State should be applied in future agricultural projects to ensure quality deliverables. The government should pursue only rural development-oriented agricultural policies, and finance projects that have certified Local Development Plans. Seemingly bottleneck criterion that would delay the release of funds should be relaxed for agricultural program managers to be proactive to beneficiaries’ requests and function effectively. Finally, the fadama program should be extended to increase communities’ dual opportunities of experiencing both agricultural and rural development.

Highlights

Beside agricultural productivity and capacity building, one of the objectives of National Fadama Development programme was to positively impact on rural development through the provision of rural infrastructure
Secondary materials from Rivers State National Fadama III Development Programme Coordinating Office Report, (2015) on implementation of National Fadama III projects in Rivers State and bulletins from the state ministry of agriculture formed our sources of information
This study followed the analytical framework of Olutayo (2009) and, Akinleye, Awoniyi & Fapojuwo, (2005) who investigated Fadama infrastructure and development in Ajibo resettlement area of university of Lagos and, Evaluation of the National Fadama Development Project Approach to Rural Development: Lessons for Local Government Councils in Nigeria respectively

Summary

Introduction

Beside agricultural productivity and capacity building, one of the objectives of National Fadama Development programme was to positively impact on rural development through the provision of rural infrastructure. Fadama is a Hausa word for wet land, internationally accepted in soil science literature as wetland soils or hydromorphic soils which are the seasonally or permanently poor drained soils of River valleys and flood plains of the coastal and Delta swamps. These productive soils can be utilized in both wet and dry seasons. Third section evaluated the farming, infrastructural and expenditure activities of Fadama III. The fourth summarized the evaluated activities while the fifth section concluded the study with recommendations

Methods

Results

Conclusion