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COMMUNIQU OF THE FIRST POST IFAD-RTEP MEETING HELD ATARMTI, ILORIN, FROM 15TH TO 17TH JUNE, 2010

1.0 The first post IFAD-RTEP meeting was held at ARMTI, Ilorin, from 15th

to 17th

June,

2010 under the Chairmanship of RTEP Programme Manager, Alhaji O. M. Jimoh. The

meeting was in fulfillment of an earlier promise made by RTEP Programme Manager at

the Project Completion Review Workshop held at Abuja on March 24, 2010.

2.0 With the objective of discussing various matters arising from RTEP closure with a view

to consolidating its gains and ensuring sustainability of the project, the meeting was

attended by the ADPs and RTEP officials.

3.0 The Chairman gave the opening remarks while the 2010 AWPB was presented by the

Programme Leader (PME) of RTEP Management Unit.

4.0 Below are the highlights of the deliberations that followed the presentation.

4.1 The meeting:

i. noted the huge success recorded by RTEP as indicated by the two critical indicators, theEconomic Rate of Return (ERR) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) that were positive and

higher than what were estimated at appraisal.

ii. noted the various matters arising from RTEP closure and the unanimous agreementreached at the PCR workshop on the fact that the Programme has had positive impact on

the intended beneficiaries and that the momentum and gains be sustained through the

development of a follow-on programme to further strengthen the capacities of the

beneficiaries.

iii. noted that the consolidation and sustainability of RTEP will be purely government affairswith both State and Federal Government bearing the responsibility of IFAD. The Stategovernments were therefore urged to support the sustainability agenda for the project

beneficiaries to always have confidence in government programmes.

iv. noted with joy that the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development hasapproved future implementation of RTEP II to develop the complete value chains of

RTEP crops. The meeting appreciated the efforts of RTEP Manager and other relevant

officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture that resulted in the approval and

subsequent release of fund by Federal Government for the execution of the sustainability

agenda.

v. noted the various objectives around which the 2010 AWPB is centred. These includeconsolidation of gains of RTEP; completion/upgrading of the existing processing centres;

development of clusters of outgrowers around processing centres to feed them with raw

materials, capacity building for RTEP beneficiaries (both processors and producers) and

the expansion of the joint efforts of IITA/NRCRI/RTEP on yam development.

vi. noted the highlights of 2010 AWPB as contained in the presentation the copy of whichwas given to all the ADPs that participated in the meeting. The detailed 2010 budget

proposal was also given to them. Both documents and other relevant information in the

communiqu are to guide the ADPs in implementing the 2010 activities.

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vii. short duration for the implementation of 2010 AWPB (June-December) wasacknowledged to be a major challenge. The ADPs were therefore implored to swing into

action right away and ensure that beneficiaries pay their 10% contribution into their

respective accounts for RTEP-MU to release the FG counterpart to them.

viii. the meeting advised ADPs to sign MOU with the outgrowers to be developed around thecentres to ensure that such outgrowers deliver their cassava roots to designated

processing centres. Processing centres must know their outgrowers and vice-versa.Priority should however be given to processing and production groups before non-RTEP

individual outgrowers.

ix. the meeting was informed that due to the efforts made by RTEP-MU, outstanding debtsin form of SOEs and arrears to the beneficiary groups were receiving IFADs attention.

However, RTEP-MU revealed that all such SOEs submitted to it after the deadline would

be returned to the affected ADPs as they could not be pushed to IFAD for reimbursement.

x. it was noted that sustainability programme will accommodate only 15 states for two yearsand participation by states is dependent on meeting some eligibility criteria, the most

important of which is availability of State counterpart fund while it will be on first come,

first served basis. Although, participation is optional, all the ADPs were urged to

endeavour to participate for the benefit of beneficiaries.

xi. the meeting noted the possibility of a state having far more than eight (8) viable groupstargeted for assistance in 2010, RTEP-MU assured that those groups that could not be

covered in 2010 will receive attention in 2011. In the same vein, the ADPs were advised

not to discourage the seemingly unviable ones but rather encourage and retain them for

RTEP II.

xii. The meeting stressed the need to focus more attention on the development and addition ofvalue to yam, cocoyam, potatoes and their respective products. The meeting was

informed of the Federal Government readiness to commit about N150million to yam production. The states were therefore urged to take due advantage of the opportunity

under the initiative. Direct production of seedyams through minisett technique will also

be encouraged during the period of consolidation/sustainability.

xiii. in view of the fact that it is almost late for 2010 yam programme, states were advised tocommence necessary preparations for next planting season.

xiv. it was suggested and agreed that the Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Rural Developmentbe advised to write the state governments on the sustainability programme. This is with a

view to facilitating the release of counterpart funds by the states.

xv. the meeting received a cheering news from Plateau State concerning the readiness of the participating LGAs to assist their respective groups. The meeting considered this as acommendable gesture and urged other ADPs to borrow a leaf from Plateau ADP.

xvi. the meeting was informed that 2010 AWPB does not provide for payment of motivationallowance. However, any state that can afford to pay should go ahead. It was made

crystal clear that such payments have nothing to do with IFAD and RTEP-MU.

xvii. the meeting noted and commended the Garden of Miracle Processing Group of Akwa-Ibom State for its efforts in the area of branding and packaging of RTEP products for

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both local and international markets. The meeting emphasized that any processing centres

that seek NAFDAC registration should be encouraged and that the cost of such

registration be included in the AWPB.

xviii. in view of the fact that year 2010 AWPB does not make provision for the procurement ofnew vehicles, the ADPs were advised to continue to manage their old vehicles with a

promise to make provision for vehicle refurbishment in 2011.

xix. states that have resources to embark on new activities like processing centres are allowedto go ahead as this will still form part of RTEP success stories. States were however

implored to report such efforts and other success stories to RTEP-MU for proper

documentation.

xx. the meeting further stressed the need for a forum to bring RTEP beneficiaries together forexchange of experience and cross-fertilization of ideas. While noting the existence of

unions of beneficiaries groups in Akwa-Ibom, Imo and Ekiti States, the meeting advised

other states to encourage the formation of such unions. RTEP-MU indicated its interest in

show-casing few of such unions during the next World Food Day celebration in Abuja.

xxi. the meeting noted the difficulties usually faced by RTEP farmers in getting fertilizers fortheir crops and the attendant low yields resulting from non-application of fertilizer. The

meeting also noted the continuous cultivation of RTEP crops using marginal lands due to

difficulties faced in land clearing. It was therefore suggested that a special fertilizer unit

be established within RTEP framework while special provision be made for land

clearing. RTEP Manager promised to contact the fertilizer division of the Federal

Ministry of Agriculture to see if some fertilizer allocations could be secured for RTEP

farmers. Besides, the meeting urged the states to insist on the inclusion of fertilizer unit

and provision for tractors and land clearing in RTEP II.

xxii. the meeting also noted that Federal Government through RTEP-MU will only supportactivities such as completion/upgrading of the existing processing centres, developmentof outgrowers around the centres and capacity building for the beneficiaries. All

operating expenses by the ADPs will be borne by the states. In effect, no reimbursement

of any form should be expected from RTEP-MU by the ADPs.

xxiii. it was noted that RTEP 1 implementation witnessed poor publicity. It was thereforestressed that publicity be accorded the required attention to further show-case RTEP

activities and success stories.

xxiv. in case of outbreak of diseases, states were advised to render prompt report to RTEP-MUfor necessary intervention.

5.0 The meeting ended with an expression of gratitude to the Federal Government forproviding the financial support required to consolidate and sustain the programme after

IFAD has abandoned it in the midsea. RTEP management on its part thanked all the

ADPs for their useful contributions and urged them to set in motion machinery for the

implementation of the 2-year sustainability programme.