By: Mayen Etim
KADUNA, North-West, Nigeria – Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hajiya Halima Lawal, on Wednesday said the State Government is looking forward to a greater prospect for a bumper harvest in the year 2021.
She stated this in her welcome address at the Pre-6th Implementation Support Mission of the Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support, (APPEALS) project in Kaduna.
According to her, the high yield could only be possible on the collective efforts of all beginning from the deliberations and outcomes of the pre-mission reviews and the strategies come up with for speedy implementation.
She explained that the State experienced great challenges in 2020 especially the Covid-19 pandemic which has impacted on the economy, agriculture and project implementation.
“I want to assure you that the Government of Kaduna State will continue to give APPEALS all the support and policy guidance necessary to succeed.
“On behalf of the Governor of Kaduna State, Mal Nasir El-Rufa’i, the Deputy Governor and Chair of State Steering Committee, I welcome you all to this the Pre – 6th Implementation Support Mission and wish you successful outing,” she said.
In his vote of thanks, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Yahaya Aminu, appreciated the support of the state government and the National Coordinating Office Abuja in the implementation of the project.
Meanwhile, the National Coordinating Office (NCO) of Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement, And Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS) Abuja has embarked on a Pre-Implementation support mission to six participating states of the project this week.
Speaking at the flag off of the mission in Kaduna, National Coordinator, Mohammed Jobdi, said the mission is to provide implementation support in all areas of critical concern and agree with States on the required actions and activities that would further facilitate achievement of the project development objectives.
“A team of NCO staff, drawn across Project Components, representatives from the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, and Project Coordinating Unit will participate in the mission,” he disclosed.
According to him, two teams are drawn from NCO Abuja, representatives from the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Finance, and Project Coordinating Unit (PCU), and State representatives from Lagos and Enugu are in the mission in Kaduna.
“The mission is in preparation for the forthcoming Mid-Term Review of the APPEALS declared disbursement effective in May 2018,” he added.