ATASP Coordinator asks for more roads, electricity, irrigation

The Agricutural Transformation Agenda Support Program ( ATASP-1), Zonal Coordinator, Bida-Badeggi processing zone, Niger state, Nigeria, Engr.( Dr) Ibrahim Haruna Manta has posited the need for more rural access roads with constant electricity provision that will enhance economic social lives in the rural communities just as he advocated for efficient round the year irrigation facility for farming.

Engr. Ibrahim Haruna Manta who spoke with Food Farm News during a visit to the zone said the impact of the ATASP-1 on the livelihood of rural communities where facilities and support for major crops like cassava, sorghum and rice were prioritised pointed there is need for more rural feeder roads that would join urban centres with provision of electricity and improvement in the use of dam waters to do agriculture in a commercial way.

Manta pleaded for more rural access roads to be provided to enhance easy evaluation of Agricutural produce to market places with constant electricity to stem down high cost of diesel and petroleum on Agricutural processing and food preservation for easy accessibility.

According to him " In my opinion as the ATASP-1 is winding up. I think the second phase of the program should put more energy into building more rural access roads to link up with the urbans' for farmers' produce to easily reach the market places where they can sell to earn more money that can be reinvested into more crops production. I think this is one area ATASP-2 should face squarely across the nation"

He also advocated for provision of hydro electricity to power simple machines for Agricutural produce' processing saying that " We need more simple Agricutural machines with more provision of cheaper electricity in our rural villages to reduce high cost of diesel and petroleum"

Speaking on the counterpard payment by the states' government to the AfDB funded program said there is a need for FG to ensure all payments are made up front through direct deduction from the participating states pointing it would enhance timely meeting of all promises in the program just as he advocated for irrigation farming across the nation.

" I want to suggest that all agricultural program of this nature be paid off front before the program starts otherwise all should be imbedded in what AfDB should do to avoid the states being pursued after all the time for payment. Sincerely I also want ATASP-2 to embark more on irrigation farming like is done in all other advanced countries where streams are dam to uplift waters for all year round farming. This is what can make us achieve our dream food security, and not rain fed agriculture" said Engr.Manta.

He however commended his Governor in Niger state for his prompt payment of counterparts together with the past arrears of the last administration saying " the Governor is seriously paying the counterpard and the past arrears of the immediate past administration"