Ecowas to invest 9 million dollars in Agriculture

Ecowas to invest 9 million dollars in Agriculture
By Vincent Oliji, Abuja

An estimated nine million US dollars is to be expended by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), to improve Agriculture for the period 2011 to 2015.
Ecowas Commissioner of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Mr Salifu Ousseini disclosed this at the regional body's December Parliament session in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Mr Ousseni said that contributions would come from development  partners, along side the institutional mechanism adopted at the 66th ordinary session of Ecowas Council of Ministers, held in August 2011, to implement the programmes.

Regional programs underway

According to the Commissioner, regional programmes on agriculture have been formulated and structured along three mobilising programmes, spread over the 2011 t0 2015 time frame to facilitate the transformation of the West African agriculture sector.

“Agriculture, rural development, environmental protection and management of natural resources constitute the fundamental basis for the economic and social development of the West African region,” he said.

Referral issues

Meanwhile, the Ecowas parliament has reiterated its commitment to tackle the referral items brought to it by the Ecowas Commission.

The Speaker of the Ecowas Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremmadu, stated this at an extra-ordinary session in Abuja.

Senator Ekweremmadu said that the first item-transportation, was vital as it concerned the implementation of the Yamassoukro Accord, which promotes the free movement of people, goods and services in the region.

Othe referral items listed include telecommunication and electronic learning.
"These would in turn be referred to relevant standing committees for consideration," Ekweremmadu stated.

The parliament also congratulated the government and people of Liberia as well as the Ecowas Heads of State and Government for the successful presidential and parliamentary elections in Liberia.

Hauwa Abu/Hajia Sani