Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement And Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project budgeted $72 million out of the $200 million project sum for women and youth empowerment, National Project Coordinator, Dr. Aminu Babandi, said.
Addressing the 4th Implementation Support Mission of the Project on Wednesday in Kaduna, Babandi, who was represented by the National Procurement Specialist, Engr. Tijjani Kayode said women and youth empowerment is key to the project, that was why all phases commence simultaneously.
“Women and youth takes about $72 million. The productive enhancement is supposed to be linked to the women and youth component. The process of identifying the clusters and up-takers demands that we include the women and youth component.”
Task Team Leader of the APPEALS Project, Dr. Adetunji Oredipe has tasked the coordinators and leaders of the Project in Kano and Kaduna states to ensure that the three focal areas of food security, export promotion and livelihood improvement of the project are achieved.
“We want to challenge the states and project coordinators to focus on achieving the three focal areas of food security, export promotion and livelihood improvement. We want to say this is how much the APPEALS project in Nigeria is contributing to the food basket in terms of quantity and percentage.”
Oredipe warned that they would always keep an eye on them from the national office, in ensuring that they remained on track. “You know we will come as advance staff every six months to see what you are doing. The mission is not to come to score you, but to support you and add value to your work.
“I will expect the national office to work closely with the states to drive the components objective. I will expect that whatever report I am getting from each department has been consented and accepted by the national counterpart. If by any chance we pick up new issues in this mission, let’s find a way to solve it.
“It will be an opportunity to solve all the problems we come across within this two years. We must show clearly what we have done to increase yield within the next two years from the type of seeds, cultural practices adopted.
“The World Bank is not only interested in the results but the process, I want you to pay attention to the process. I am sure we are aware we will be upgrading equipment in the states, we must ensure that after that, they don’t go back to the way they were abandoned,” he added.
The Director Veterinary and Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture Kaduna state, Dr. Habiba Bello Tukur, said the response of the APPEALS project has been overwhelming.
