The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated an access road and three rural farm markets across four major rural settlements in Bauchi State.

The road and rural farm market projects were inaugurated in Soro, Ganjuwa, Darazo, Dambam, and Warji Local Government Areas of the state.

Alhaji Umar Yusuf-Muhammad, Northeast Zonal Director of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, inaugurated the projects.

He represented Dr. Mohammed Abubakar, the minister, at the function.

Yusuf-Muhammad said the projects were designed to promote value addition and trade; provide livelihoods and improve the social and economic wellbeing of the rural dwellers.

He added that the ministry had the mandate to transform agriculture through a value chain approach.

“We support farmers in all value chains under crop and livestock productions.

“It is not just production aspect; we also provide support in the areas of processing, marketing, storage, and agricultural financing.

“Fundamentally, we have a department that provides basic infrastructure in rural areas, especially water supply, electricity, roads, and other basic social amenities that will transform the living condition of the people.

“As part of the mandate of the Department of Rural Development, we have the Rural Farm Market in Darazo, Dambam, and Warji local government areas.

“This market is of great importance because it will go a long way in transforming the living standards of the people.

“It is a source of empowerment because so many activities will be carried out where people earn incomes and improve their livelihoods,’’ Yusuf-Muhammad said.

He added that the ministry also rehabilitated the seven-kilometer Soro-Gungura-Shita-Youtare-Ganjuwa road to open up the communities and ease the movement of produce to markets.

He encouraged the people to take ownership of the markets, roads, and other facilities provided in their communities to ensure sustainability.

He also tasked the local councils to ensure that only genuine farmers and agro-processors benefited from the allocation of shops at the markets.

In his remarks, Mr. Daniel Abarshi, the ministry’s coordinator in Bauchi State, said the rural farm markets were designed with conveniences, boreholes, security posts, lock-up, and open shops.

Abarshi commended the state and local government councils for their support which facilitated the successful implementation of the projects.

“I call on the communities to make good use of the rural farm markets towards creating enabling environment to improve the value chain in the communities,’’ he said.

In their separate remarks, Alhaji Sale Ibrahim, Alhaji Magaji Aliyu, and Bala Mohammed-Yahaya, representatives of the councils lauded the gesture.

They pledged to ensure constant supervision and maintenance of the markets and cautioned beneficiaries against vandalism of the facilities.

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Also speaking, Auwalu Shehu-Yakubu, a community leader in Soro, commended the ministry for the road rehabilitation project.

Shehu-Yakubu said the road linked more than 30 communities in the area and would ease transportation difficulties.