The Agricultural Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has inaugurated the project management Committee in the Local Government in Benue state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Odoh Ogwu, who is the Chairman of the State Steering Committee, at the inauguration, urged members of the project management committee to approach their responsibilities with dedication and commitment. He emphasized the importance of their role in addressing climate change challenges and promoting agricultural resilience in semi-arid landscapes.
In his remark, the project coordinator, Mr Victor Ama, emphasized the importance of the project management committee in ensuring the successful implementation of the ACReSAL project at the Local Government level in Benue state. He highlighted the need for effective coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of project activities to achieve the desired goals and outcomes.
The project management committee members which comprised of representatives from various relevant government departments, such as agriculture, environment, water resources, and climate change at the Local government levels, also representatives from local communities, farmer associations, and other stakeholders involved in agricultural and environmental activities in the region.
The Climate Change Officer (CCO) of Benue ACReSAL, Mrs. Seember Ugboho who delivered a lecture on the Overview of the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) stated that CRF can be described best in the context of component ‘B’ of the ACReSAL project(which is Community Climate Resilience with sub–components; B1 as Community strengthening and B2 as Community Investment all with the core sector of activities).
She said plans are on to support (invest in) climate-smart rain-fed agriculture, particularly crops. In approximately 2800 communities (to undertake investments for climate-smart rain-fed crop interventions). aimed at financing physical investments as prioritized through the micro-watershed planning process( provide access to finance to support investments) It also aims to address gender inequalities in access to funding for enterprises by prioritizing subproject proposals from groups/cooperatives that have women beneficiaries as members and/or leaders. It emphasizes 40% inclusiveness of women in every Community Interest Group. To provide loans to support farmers at the household level to optimize climate-smart rainfall agricultural practices, particularly relating to crops.
The inauguration of the project management committee she said marks a significant milestone in the ACReSAL project’s implementation in Benue state. It reflects the commitment of the government and stakeholders to work together towards building climate resilience and ensuring sustainable agricultural development in the region she declared.
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