MNRDP RURAL FEEDER ROAD REVALUATION MISSION

A team on MNRDP Abuja, on the revaluation of Nerica
Rural Feeder Road arrived Ogun State MNRDP Desk
office on Wednesday 7th of September, 2011. The
Team comprised the following:
Mrs. G.O.Usman ( MNRDP Accountant)
Mr. Adekunle Adeoye ( MNRDP Procurement officer)and
Mr. S.O.Ali ( M.& E. Officer, MNRDP Abuja).
The aim of the mission is to do on-the-spot revaluation of level of the Road
contractor's work.
The team was officially welcomed at Ogun State Desk
Office by the Mr.I.O.Phillips(OGADEP Programme Manager)
other officers at the Desk office, Engr.Tunde Faboyo( G.M., Tundis Nig. Ltd),
 and Engr.Olakunle Olaniran( Supervising Engineer).
The entire team immediately proceeded to the Roads sites with Digital Camera for photographs,and
Cam-Coder to record revaluation activities. The revaluation activities was also conducted on the
8th of Sept, 2011, while the exercise was wrapped up on the 9th of Sept.2011 with a meeting at
the office of OGADEP's P.M.
At the end of the whole revaluation exercisethe MNRDP Team from Abuja expressed satisfaction with
the work done by Tundis Nig.Ltd, and gave kudos to both Enginer Faboyo & Engr.Olaniran.

STOCK-TAKING MISSION

                      
A team on Stock-taking came on a mission to Ogun State MNRDP Desk office from 13th to 14th of June, 2011.
The team which was led by Dr. Adedeji Adejobi ( National Operation Officer) also comprised the following:
- Mr. Lateef Akande (Asst. Operation Officer)
- Mr. Yusuf ( Asst. M.& E. Officer)
- Mrs. Obe Ene ( Extension officer)
The Terms of Reference of the Team involved getting information on the following :
1.    Unsold produce from 2008 – 2010 still lying with the farmers or ADPs.
2.    Actual groups on ground (total/state)/interaction with group members.
-    Name of groups/individual farmer  & the quantity of produce;
-    Number of farmers/group;
-    Number of males;
-    Number of females;
3.    Location/sites and quantity of NERICA rice unsold (MT or KG).
4.    Price/kg or price/50kg bag of unmilled rice (paddy).
5.    Price/kg or price/50 kg bag of milled.
6.    Discussion/mode of operation on the revolving account.
7.    other relevant issue(s) at stake.
8i.    The operation of the Tractor, how many people are operating it, how many farm families have benefited,
    how many hectares cumulatively have been ploughed, how much charged for the use and how the funds have been managed
ii.    What are the success stories: how many households have their income increased, how many were able to pay school fees,
        how many built houses, how many bought cars, motorcycles, bicycles; how many were able to pay health bills,
          school fees, etc.
iii.    From the farmers’ perspectives, how has the project affected their livelihoods, what are the advantages they have
        by participating in the project, what are the difficulties and lapses observed.
iv.    The input distribution for 2009/2010 planting season: how much was sold, how much money expected from sales at
         50% subsidy, how much has been retrieved and how much outstanding from the farmers.
v.    Seed buyback. How much has been released to States in the last two planting seasons (2008/2009 & 2009/2010),
    how much sold back to farmers, how much in the store, why are they not sold, how much has been realized form the sales of seed.
vi.    Farmers and staff training: how many staff have benefited, how many farmers benefited, what are the themes of the
        training and how have these enhanced project implementation and benefits.
vii.    Technology transfer: how many technologies were extended to farmers (Names and numbers), how many of these are
    considered useful by the farmers.
viii.    Production support: how many farmers benefited from direct disbursement in terms of loan or credit, how many
    benefited from other supports (name them).
ix.    Any other relevant information as requested by the teams.

9.    How many Processors are involved
10     How many food vendors
10.    How many private investors have come into processing, marketing and utilization of Nerica Rice.
11.   Structure of the Market.
     Ii) Farmers involvement in direct marketing of Nerica
     iii) Prospect  of Nerica Rice
       The Team after collecting pertinent information from the Desk office, proceeded to the field to validate some of the
        information directly from the farmers.
       Farmers interviewed attested to the following facts,among others:
       1. MNRDP Project has benefited them immencesly- Some bought Cars, Motocycles,Build Houses, renovated houses, buy lands, e.t.c.
       2. Only one farmer, named Alhaja Owodunni still has an approximate of  2mt  of Nerica rice with her.
       3. There is market & prospect for Nerica Rice.
      A village King also promised to mobilize more farmers to plant Nerica Rice.

      The team also visited a Nerica Rice Farm ( Approx. 10ha) planted by Pastor Bode Adenekan.
     On the last day of the visit,which was on the 14th of June, 2011,after some office interractions and interrogations,
the team visited a marketing Firm, Ultimate Foods Nig. Ltd, located at Wasimi. The team members also interviewed the
 M.D. of the Firm, Mr. Israel, who showed the team his firm with a Dryer and Distoner. The M.D. attested to the prospect
and profitability of Nerica Rice Business, but with emphasis on the the need for intensive Sale Promoion and Publicity.
   A wrap up meeting was later held with  Mr.I.O.Phillips ( P.M, OGADEP) in his office.

Supervisory Visit to Nerica Rural Roads

On the 20th of May, 2011, a supervisory team comprising Mr. A.O.Osiyoye ( Desk officer), Mr. D.O. Onigbinde( M.& E. Officer) and Mr. B.O.Abiodun (OGADEP's Director of Technical Services) paid a monitoring/supervisory visit to three(3) of the Nerica Rural Feeder Roads. The Roads visited were

Ako-Onigbagbo-Matoole

Ago-Iwoye- Okenugbo

Idofe- Falafonmu-Odosapo-Imope

At  Ago-Iwoye-Okenugbo, the team conversed with two(2) of the engineers of the contracting firm(ie Tundis Nig. Ltd). The engineers expressed their fear as regards the probable damage that could be done to the road during this raining season.

 

Meeting of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria ( RIFAN), Ogun State Branch

The Desk Officer, Ogun State MNRDP , Mr. A.O. Osiyoye participated in a meeting organized  by the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria( RIFAN), Ogun State Branch, held on the 29th of April, 2011 at OGADEP's Training Hall. The meeting was chaired by Pastor Bode Adenekan ( RIFAN Chairman). The purpose of the meeting was to inform the Rice farmers about the commencement of work on the Rural Feeder Roads in the State, and to solicit the farmers cooperation with the contractor.
The Desk officer read out the list of all the NERICA rural feeder roads in Ogun State.
The Chairman spoke extensively to persuade and encourage the rice farmers to repay their MNRDP loans.

At the end of the brief meeting which lasted for about three(3) hours, RIFAN members in  Ogun State expressed their profound gratitude   to MNRDP Abuja, AfDB,and OGADEP for the kind gesture.
In attendance were 43 Rice farmers spread across the State

Visitation of the MNRDP Officials & Contractor on Rural Feeder Roads to Ogun State

Tundis Nigeria Ltd, the Contractor for the 75.9Km Rural Feeder Roads for the Nerica Rice Farmers in the Ogun State, and officials of the MNRDP Abuja paid a visit to Ogun State on Tuesday 19th and 20th of April, 2011. The Contractor team was led by Engr. Tunde Faboyo ( CEO) and included Svr.Israel Adeniran, and Mr. Bolu Dahunu. The MNRDP Abuja team comprised Mr.Kunle Adeoye who represented the NPC, and Mr. S.O.Ali ( Agric.officer/M.& E Assisitant).
The purpose of the visit was the introduction of the contractor and  Site Inspection .
A formal reception  and meeting was held with the Ogun State Desk Office, comprising Mr.I.O.Phillips ( Programme Manager,OGADEP), Mr.A.O.Osiyoye ( Desk Officer), Mr. D.O.Onigbinde ( M.& E. Officer) and Mr.T..Odunoye ( Accountant) . After this, the team with officials of Ogun State Desk office set out for inspection of the sites which spread through the 4 zones of the Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP), viz; Ikenne, Ijebu-Ode, Ilaro and Abeokuta Zone.