By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

There are fears that the production of staple food crops like rice and cassava may be stalled in Anambra State, following the non-payment of counterpart fund for agricultural programmes organised by the Federal Government of Nigeria/ International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP by the State government.

Due to the delay in the payment, FGN/IFAD-VCDP staff in Anambra area owed 13 months salary arrears and other allowances, a situation that has negatively affected the work attitude of the workers; and by extension, programme implementation.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, he told journalists on Tuesday in Awka that Anambra State Government last paid her counterpart fund for the FGN/IFAD-VCDP projects in the year 2018.

This is the fifth year running since Anambra Government last paid her counterpart fund for the FGN/ IFAD-VCDP programme.

The state first paid the counterpart fund of N94.4m in the year 2015, in 2016, it paid N94.8m, due to additional financing between the year 2021 and 2023, the money rose to N118m yearly, meaning that it is owing about N590 million.

The programme first began with three Local Government Areas of Anambra East, Anambra West and Ayamelum, later it was extended to Orumba North, Awka North, and finally Orumba South, Ogbaru and Ihiala, the source said.

The FGN/IFAD-VCDP programme is aimed at enhancing on sustainable basis, incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava.

FGN-VCDP, an international agency, is the major body funding the programme while the federal and state governments pay counterpart funds.

Recall that the project which began in 2015 is expected to end in 2024.

Meanwhile, it is envisaged that the project might be extended due to its obvious positive impact.

The programme has impacted positively on food security, job and wealth creation in the state following publicised statistics by the agency.

An example is Anambra farmers, some years back, stunned the nation when they recorded a quantum leap from 2.5 ton per hectare for rice/cassava 9 ton per hectare in rice production, to 6 ton per hectare and cassava 30 ton per hectare in year 2015 respectively.

FGN-VCDP/IFAD Anambra State Internal Mid-term Progress Report (June 1, 2019 to October, 2022) revealed that farmers in the state have continued to improve their yield in cassava and rice in the state, making it a force to reckon with in the food production areas in the country.

An existing operational records further revealed that Anambra hit 210,000 metric tons of rice production in the year 2016.

Also, the state produced more than 540, 000 metric tons in 2019 with the projection of 791,000 metric tons from 2020 and beyond.

Statistics of official records state: 262 rice farmers comprising 198 female and 64 male were supported to cultivate 214 hectares of rice under the Rural Poor Stimulus Facility of COVID-19.

About 8, 500kg of certified rice seed, 460 bags of 50kg NPK fertilizers, 230 bags of 50kg Urea, 250 litres of selective and non-elective herbicides were provided to farmers to cushion the effects of covid-19.

Similarly, 396 cassava farmers groups consisting of 1, 875 adult male, 2025 adult female, 664 male youth, 634 female youth deposited N10, 116, 982 to pay for matching grant for 2022 cassava wet season in 2022.

The record also showed that, 608 rice farmers groups consisting of 1975 adult males, 1866 adult females, 1522 male youth and 1,026 female youth deposited N16, 801, 000 to pay for matching grant support for 2022 rice wet season production.

However, these gains already recorded in agro-business might nose dive if the state fails to act fast in fulfilling her financial obligation for the project this year.

The states contribution is for running cost mainly used for the payment of staff salaries and allowances and other sundry administrative expenses.

A staffer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the morale of workers in undertaking their responsibilities to farmers have largely been affected because it is not easy for someone to work for a whole 13 months without salaries and you expect magic from such a worker.

A beneficiary who simply identified herself as Mrs Ngozi said she has been part of the Programme since inception, adding that the response attitude to farmers by FGN/IIFAD-VCDP staffers was waning in recent time.

When we first started the Programme, they told us that they are responsible for capacity building and extension services and these were the reason behind the initial success recorded.

Lately, when you have problem in your farm and contact them, the first thing the FGN/IFAD-VCDP staff will tell you is we have not received our salaries and many at times delay or decline the intervention, Mrs Ngozi lamented.

She noted that about 4, 000 rural farmers, including women, men and youths were participating across the eight constituent local government areas through various farmers co-operative societies.

She added: It is through the co-operative societies that FGN/IFAD-VCDP execute its projects like construction of market stalls, stores, construction of cassava bulky centres, rice mills, and boreholes.

They equally build the capacity of farmers through training and extension services in addition to supply of equipment, matching grants on inputs and certified seeds and quality inputs among others.

Ngozi further appealed to the state government to urgently fulfill her obligation by paying the counterpart fund, saying that the programme meant so much for the socio-economic well-being of the state.