FG, IFAD Distribute Agricultural Inputs To Rice, Cassava Farmers

The Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development – Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD- VCDP), on Tuesday, began distribution of agricultural inputs to rice and cassava farmers in Nasarawa. Dr Eunice Adgidzi, state coordination of VCDP in Nasarawa, at the flag off on Tuesday in Lafia, said the distribution of the agricultural inputs was in furtherance of the VCDP commitment to strengthening rice and cassava value chains in the state. Adgidzi added that the exercise would also help to improve the livelihood of smallholder rice and cassava farmers on a sustainable basis in Nasarawa. She listed the items to be distributed to include 92 irrigation pumps, 40 solar-powered knapsack sprayers, four power tillers and eight tricycles. Others are eight cassava processing equipment, including grinding machines, communal fryers, hydraulic pressers, cassava chipping machine as well as stainless steel rice steam per boilers. The coordinator noted that the programme had sustained its intervention through the distribution of inputs in the state since July 2020. She commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his support to agriculture, adding that the commitment was gradually making Nasarawa a hub for agricultural excellence. Adgidzi urged the farmers to make judicious use of the items to boost agricultural production. “While VCDP has done its part, farmers must also do their part to enable us to achieve the desired success. “We are all counting on you to effectively utilise these equipment in order to boost production and processing of rice and cassava in the state,” she said. In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Umar Dan-Akano, lauded the VCDP’s intervention in the state. Dan-Akano, represented by the Director, Agriculture Engineering Services, Solomon Umbundaga, said the programme had greatly improved the livelihood of smallholder farmers in the state. He encouraged the benefiting farmers to continue to leverage the opportunity to boost food production in the state. Also speaking at the event, Mr Emmanuel Alanana, Programme Manager, Nasarawa Agricultural Development Programme (NADP), said that Nasarawa government had always prioritised the agricultural sector. He urged farmers to always take advantage of the various programmes to enhance production. Alanana maintained that Nasarawa State used to be a leading producer in cassava and rice, and called for its sustenance. He charged the beneficiaries of the item to make good use of them. “We have the land and the population and there is no need for us to go hungry in Nasarawa State. ” We shouldn’t rely only on rain-fed farming given our potentials for dry season crop production. “So, I appeal to all farmers in the state to take advantage of available opportunities, especially with the passion of the present administration in agriculture,” he said. Some of the beneficiaries, Haladu Abubakar and Margaret Ogah, thanked the VCDP for the intervention, saying it would go a long way to boasting their farm produce.

IFAD, FG distribute agro equipment to 840 rural farmers

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), together with the Federal Government, has distributed N109 million worth of agro equipment to 840 rural farmers in Enugu State. The exercise, which took place at the Michael Okpara Square, at the weekend, was part of IFAD/FGN’s-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP). The items distributed included 500 bags of fertilizers, 10 tricycles, 55 water pumps, 115 knapsack sprayers, five fufu pounder, 50 seed planters and five rice milling machines. Others were five haulers and polishing machines, 10 grater cassava polishing machines, 20 rice harvesters and 25 starter packs for confectioneries. Also, 40 of the 840 farmers supported were empowered with POS. In a speech at the event, Gov. Peter Mbah expressed his administration’s readiness to support the IFAD/FGN programme in the state. Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, thanked IFAD/FGN for the partnership with the state. He commended the organisation for its commitment in assisting farmers through its programmes aimed at increasing food production in the state. He further lauded IFAD for focusing largely on women empowerment, saying that the approach would help to reduce poverty in rural communities. He directed that all the equipment, which must be given to the farmers, should be closely monitored. He urged the beneficiaries to put the items to proper use in order to realise the set goals of the empowerment programme. In a speech, the National Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, thanked Mbah for paying off the outstanding four years arrears of the counterpart funds. Aliyu described the governor’s gesture as a testament of the State Government’s commitment toward the development of agriculture and poverty reduction in the state. Aliyu advocated the judicious use of the equipment by the beneficiaries, urging them not to disappoint the State Government that had immensely supported the programme. “Please don’t disappoint your governor, he cares for you. “That is why he paid all the outstanding counterpart funding. “Please, use them well,” Aliyu said. She said that the VCDP had made progress from support to market values. She further said that the programme had supported over 4,000 farmers, constructed rice and cassava processing centres. Other amenities, according to her, included water, solar-powered boreholes, market stalls, mini bridges, culverts for easy transportation for farmers and offtakers and creches. Aliyu disclosed that the organisation had also used a programme, tagged, “Gender Action Learning System” to change the mindset of women in the state. “We have made impact and we are achieving our programme development goals in Enugu State and elsewhere,” she said. Earlier in a welcome address, the State Programme Coordinator, Dr Edward Isiwu, said that the VCDP programme was tailored along market development and productivity enhancement, rice and cassava value chains. According to him, the programme is aimed at reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, and accelerating economic growth on a sustainable basis. Isiwu said that they had built five cassava mills and over six rice mills and created employment for people. He disclosed that the pilot programme was being implemented in five Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Aninri, Udenu, Enugu East, Nkanu East and Isi-Uzo.