FADAMA programme reviews strategy to reach out to beneficiaries

The FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) programme says it is reviewing its communication strategy so as to reach out to its beneficiaries, better their lives and increase food production in Nigeria.
Mr Aliyu Kutigi, the Niger State Project Coordinator (SPC) of FADAMA III AF programme, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
Kutigi said that the review of the communication strategy would facilitate efforts to empower the FADAMA beneficiaries with modern farming techniques through the media.
According to him, this will enhance the successful implementation of the project.
“In Niger, FADAMA farmers are reached through electronic and print media outfits like Radio Niger, Lavun Community Radio and NTA as well as newspapers.
“Other strategies we are adopting to communicate with the farmers are drama presentations, songs, films, video shows and public service announcement — using mobile media vans.
“These strategies have assisted the Niger State FADAMA Office in mobilising the communities and them sensitising to the specific schemes of the FADAMA III AF programme in the state,’’ he said.
NAN recalls that the Niger was the first state to set up a FADAMA project community radio station.
The radio station was established in 2014with support from the World Bank, the National FADAMA Office and other stakeholders.
Kutigi said that the successes so far recorded by the FADAMA III AF project, following the adoption of the communication strategies had been tremendous.
He said that 1,025 farmers were trained in business plan development, while 2,500 farmers received training in agribusiness management.
He also said that 312 programme slots were produced for broadcast by the radio and television, while 3,300 publications were printed and distributed to farmers and other stakeholders.
“A total of 79 farm clusters and 747 farmers, processors and agricultural services providers have been registered,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the main objective of the FADAMA III AF programme is to scale up the impact and the development effectiveness of a well-structured agricultural project.
The programme, which is implemented in some selected states with comparative advantage and high potential to increase production of cassava, rice, sorghum and horticulture value chains, also helps to link the farmers to better-organised markets.