Preparations are in top gear for the IFAD Value Chain Development Programme sixth supervision mission to the state.

The State Program Coordinator, IFAD VCDP, Mr.  Nnamdi Agwuncha announced this during one-day training on Basic functions of Water Users Association, WUAs held at the conference hall of the ADP in Awka.

According to Mr. Agwuncha, the exercise was aimed at assessing the degree of impact of the programme on the beneficiaries in the five
participating council areas.

Water Users Associations are  state  based farmers who pooled their financial, technical, material and human resources for the operation and maintenance of a water facilities  provided for them by the IFAD VCDP.

Mr. Agwuncha represented by the Irrigation Engineer, Engineer Martins Ugochukwu charged them to ensure rational and economic Water use, reduce non-productive losses, prevent soil and water logging and most importantly control soil erosion.

He appealed to them to ensure that all the facilities in the five participating council areas are working effectively under conducive
environment to pave way for more approvals for projects  during the mission.

The IFAD VCDP Liaison Officer for Anambra West Council Area, Mr. Rufus Imoka who said the borehole that was sunk by IFAD VCDP in
Umueze-Anam was submerged  by the receding flood, announced that they
have commenced revitalization process through flushing of the pipes,
assuring that it will soon be functional again.

In a paper titled “Management of group Enterprises” a resource person,
Mr.  Joseph Onugha  asked them to  take full
ownership of the facilities and  see to their general operations and regular maintenance of all the facilities sighted in their communities.

Some of the participants, including the Chairman of Mgbakwu Water
Users Associations, Mr. Chukwualuka Onwuzuligbo and the Treasurer Ufuma Water Users Association, Mrs. Helen Edonna in their separate speeches testified that the water facilities have helped in nipping to the bud scarcity of portable water while the proceeds from it serve as loan to members and non members.