CRF Monitoring: Kwara ACReSAL Beneficiaries Expand Farms, Create Jobs, Target Bumper Harvest

The Kwara State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (KWACReSAL) Project has commenced post-disbursement monitoring and assessment of beneficiaries of its Community Revolving Fund (CRF) across 10 communities in the state, with beneficiaries reporting increased farming activities, expansion of farm spaces and employment of additional labour.

The monitoring exercise, which took place last week, is designed to assess the utilisation of funds disbursed to beneficiaries, evaluate the early impact of the intervention on their livelihoods, identify challenges and provide necessary guidance to ensure the sustainability of the scheme.

The beneficiary communities are Adewole, Warah, Afon, Oke-Ogun, Iponrin, Tsaragi, Shonga, Lafiagi, Lade and Patigi, drawn from the project's various catchment areas.

Recall that KWACReSAL recently implemented the CRF disbursement exercise as part of efforts to strengthen the economic resilience of vulnerable community members, particularly women, youths, farmers and organised Community Interest Groups (CIGs).

Under the first phase, the intervention targeted 50 Community Interest Groups comprising about 1,000 beneficiaries, with provision for additional beneficiaries as the programme progresses. The funds are structured as a revolving facility, requiring beneficiaries to repay within the agreed period so that other members of the communities can subsequently benefit.

During the monitoring visits to the 10 communities, the KWACReSAL CRF team engaged beneficiaries and community leaders, inspected farms and other livelihood activities supported with the funds, and assessed the level of utilisation of the disbursed resources.

The team also reviewed the progress of the various groups, listened to beneficiaries' experiences and identified areas where additional support, training or guidance may be required.

According to testimonies from some of the beneficiaries, the CRF support has enabled them to expand their farm spaces and cultivate larger areas, creating room for increased planting during the current farming season.

The beneficiaries explained that access to the funds had provided them with additional resources to prepare more farmland and increase their production capacity.

Some of the farmers also disclosed that the expansion of their farm operations had necessitated the engagement of additional labourers, thereby creating employment opportunities within their communities.

The beneficiaries expressed optimism that the increase in cultivated farmland, planting activities and labour engagement would translate into higher agricultural output and contribute to a bumper harvest this year.

One of the beneficiaries, Kayode Musa of Agbenise Cooperative Society, Afon, noted that the support had made it possible to increase the scale of farming beyond what was previously possible and even additional livestock farming where he reared chickens, while another beneficiary, Isiaka Yakubu of Ounje Lawo Cooperative Farming, Afon,  said the expansion had created opportunities to engage more hands to work on the farms.

A beneficiary, Isiaka Sulaiman of Ifesowapo Community, Gbago, said the scheme had encouraged members of the group to work together and plan for the future.

“The intervention has given us hope and encouraged us to work together. We now understand that if we manage the fund properly and repay as required, other people in our community will also have the opportunity to benefit.”

Expressing her joy, a female farmer, Akinsola Princess of Ifesowapo Cooperative Farming, Oke-Ogun, said this year’s farming season marks a significant difference, as the support received has enabled the cooperative to expand its farmland, engage more labourers and look forward to a more productive harvest.

She appreciated KWACReSAL for the intervention, noting that the support has not only boosted their farming activities but also created employment opportunities for members of the community.

The beneficiaries commended KWACReSAL and its partners for the intervention, describing the CRF as a timely support that was already producing positive changes in their farming and livelihood activities.

Beyond expanding farm spaces, beneficiaries said the intervention was contributing to improved economic activities within their communities, as increased farming operations required more labour and other related services.

The beneficiaries also called for continued monitoring, technical support and capacity building to help them maximise the benefits of the CRF and ensure that the funds are properly managed.

The monitoring team reiterated the importance of prudent management of the funds, proper record keeping and compliance with the agreed repayment arrangement, stressing that the revolving nature of the scheme was critical to its sustainability.

The team explained that the post-disbursement assessment would enable the project to obtain first-hand information on the experiences of beneficiaries, assess the impact of the intervention at the grassroots and identify areas requiring further support.

The Community Revolving Fund is one of the interventions under KWACReSAL aimed at improving livelihoods and strengthening the resilience of communities through access to financial resources and support for sustainable economic activities.

The ongoing monitoring exercise is expected to strengthen accountability, improve implementation and provide valuable lessons for subsequent phases of the CRF programme across Kwara State.

With beneficiaries reporting expanded farm spaces, increased planting, additional employment of farm labour and expectations of a bumper harvest, the CRF intervention is demonstrating its potential to stimulate grassroots economic activities while strengthening the resilience and livelihoods of participating communities.

Okanlawon Taiwo

Communication Officer 

Kwara ACReSAL

07030113331