The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing initiative in Bayelsa State, which is supported by the World Bank and the French Development Agency, claims that it has satisfied all requirements for the bank to declare the initiative operational in the state.
The World Bank created the RAAMP project to provide access roads for rural farmers, enhance the infrastructure for trading, and encourage post-harvest agro-logistics in rural areas.
Following the establishment of the State Project Implementation Unit in January 2022 by Governor Douye Diri, according to Dr. Paul Ebienfa, the project coordinator for RAAMP in the state, a list of requirements was given to the project coordinating unit as conditions to meet before the World Bank would declare the project to be effective.
“As I speak with you, we have complied with every requirement set forth by the World Bank in order for the project to be approved. These requirements include, among others, the supply of office space that is appropriate for the job and a prioritisation analysis of rural routes that may affect farmers following the intervention.
He claimed that the procedure was made easier by Diri’s rapid allocation of office space for the project and the prompt delivery of counterpart money.
The governor’s commitment, he continued, was a sign that farmers would soon be able to easily transport their farm products to markets.
