The International Fund for Agricultural De velopment (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), says its nine years of operation in Ebonyi greatly enhanced the lives of benefiting farmers.
The National Programme Coordinator (NPC) of IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, made the declaration in Abakaliki during the official distribution of agricultural equipment and agro chemicals to beneficiaries in the state.
Aliyu, represented by Mr Gidado Bello, the Human Resource Advisor at IFAD-VCDP headquarters, Abuja, said that such enhancement led to improved empowerment, food production and security in the state.
“One of our biggest achievements is the perfect alignment of our programmes with policies of the Ebonyi government.
“These equipment represent the kind of intervention we give to rice and cassava farmers in benefiting states.
“This is not all but a bit of such intervention we have consistently given to beneficiaries in Ebonyi and they appreciate them,” he said.
He noted that the equipment will form the ‘one-stop agro input store” where farmers can pick what they need to improve their livelihood.
Gov. Francis Nwifuru, in a message, said that IFAD had been instrumental to the progress recorded by the government in assisting farmers in the state.
Nwifuru, represented by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku, said such assistance included the provision of grants, farm inputs, and access roads to farmlands, among others.
“IFAD is currently distributing rice, cassava production and processing equipment among others to farmers from eight participating local government areas,” he said.
Mrs Chioma Nweze, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Community Development, urged the beneficiaries not to despair due to challenges encountered in the farming ventures.
“IFAD-VCDP is about the people and communities and I urge you to save from the proceeds of your produce,” she said.
Mr Sunday Ituma, the State Programme Coordinator of IFAD-VCD, said that the beneficiaries contributed about 30 per cent of the equipment while IFAD-VCDP contributed the rest totaling N60.9 million.
“This is a matching ground intervention aimed at reducing poverty, supporting youths and women, especially the vulnerable groups, to practice agriculture effectively.
“We thank Gov. Nwifuru for approving the counterpart fund of N100 million which has greatly eased our activities,” he said.
Mrs Theresa Igwe, a beneficiary, thanked IFAD-VCDP for the gesture and pledged that the equipment would be put to proper use.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the equipment, handed over to various farmer groups, included 10 water pumping machines, 10 rice-reapers, 10 rice planter, 10 scalers, and 10 stitchers, among others (NAN)
