By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta LIFE-ND, an International Fund for Agriculture, IFAD, and Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, assisted project, has trained technical staff, Local Government Desk Officers (LGDOs), Extension Agents, Commodity Apex Development Association, (CADA), Executives and some project beneficiaries on modalities for the recovery of working capital given to incubatees of various commodities in agriculture and agro businesses in Bayelsa State.

Speaking during the training, the Rural Institutions Youths and Gender Coordinator for LIFE-ND and IFAD funded project, Dr. Clement Uwem stated that the essence of the training is to continuously strengthen institutions in the LIFE-ND for sustainability. he maintained that the recovery will be enforced by the recovery committees set up by the CADA in all the participating communities across the state.

Also speaking, the Gender, Youths and Nutrition Specialist for IFAD’s Country Programmes Advisory Team (CPAT) in Nigeria, Dr. Saudatu Zahradeen , pointed out that technical advice are given to IFAD funded projects to ensure food security because of the geometric progress of Nigeria population.

Dr. Zahradeen explained that from the implementation manual, the working capital recovery committees are to reinvest and recycle the money which will be domicile in a dedicated community account, urging them to be strategic in the recovery process.

The team earlier engaged beneficiaries in Imiringi and Tombia Communities in the state to sensitized them on conflict mitigations, group dynamics and social accountability to ease the working capital recovery process.

The session also had a delivery on the Nigerian Agricultural Enterprise Curriculum (NAEC) by Dr Aniedi Adam aimed at exposing the small-scale farmers to see agriculture as business, hence, agribusiness.

Speaking on behalf of participants, Mrs. Beauty Solomon and Mr. Woyennagasuo Akah commended LIFE-ND for the opportunity to learn the modalities to recover working capital and how to manage the funds within the community, so it can revolve for the purpose of sustainability of the project. Highlight of the event was the inauguration of the Tombia and Imiringi LIFE-ND Working Capital Recovery Committees.