By Dayo Johnson
AKURE—A WORLD Bank expect and Federal Government team leader of Fadama 111, Dr Adubi Abimbola has lauded the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko for his consistent release of the state counterpart fund for the smooth implementation of the project in the state.

Already the state government has released N59 million, being its counterpart fund for the project while it has directed all the 18 council areas of the state to release N2 million each towards the success of the Fadama 111.

Dr Abimbola during a courtesy call on the governor,  said the team was in the state to determine the status of implementation of the project, interact with beneficiaries at the community level and pay visit to the project sites.

He noted that with the community demand driven approach already on the ground in the state, the success and sustainability of Fadama 111 project in the state could not be far fetched.

The team leader who commended the governor for embracing the project, as well as being committed to its full implementation,  said the team was satisfied with the implementation of the project in the state.

Abimbola said that the Fadaa 111 project was tapping the experience of the South Asia where Agricultural group are federating fort the purpose of large scale farming and with with the availability of social capital through the World Bank, development of agricultural sector in the country would soon come to climax.

He noted that the project was bringing into agricultural practices ICT technology as well as strategic land management so as to prevent land degradation.

Also speaking,  the National Project Coordinator for Fadama 111 project Dr Bukar Tijani, described the governor as a proactive governor whose principle of governance was in tandem with Fadama111 approach.

The State Agriculture Commissioner,  Chief Julius Akinnigbagbe,  said that the recent N1billion agriculture loan disbursed through the UBA had gone a long way to boost food production, livestock, fisheries, processing facilities.

Akinnigbagbe listed achievement of the project in the state to include sensitization of 180 communities on Fadama project, formation of registration of 1179 Fadama users group and 126 Fadama community associations, disbursement of N60milion to fadama farmers and another N20milllion to Fadama community associations.

Others include that 20,892 Fadama farmers have benefited in the project intervention with 11540 males and 9343females, procurement of four Toyota Hilux vehicles, 72 motorcycles and 36 computers and 8 generators, provision of office accommodation and construction and furnishing of the state coordination office by the state government