2,793 EBONYI FARMERS RECEIVE AGRO INPUTS FROM IFAD VCDP

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

The Federal Government in collaboration with International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD has distributed farm inputs to two thousand, seven hundred and ninety three vulnarable Value Chain Development farmers in Ebonyi State.

The National Coordinator of the Programme, Dr Fatima Aliyu announced this during the launch of the project at Onuebonyi.

Represented by Mr Francis Njah, Dr Aliyu noted that the programme being implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through IFAD-COVID 19 Rural Poor Stimulus Facility was aimed at improving the income and food security of rural dwellers who engage in sustainable rice and cassava production, processing and marketing.

“I am delighted to welcome you all to this special occasion of the inauguration of agro inputs to our great farmers which has been made possible through the IFAD COVID-19 Rural Poor Stimulus Facility (RPSF) grant.

“Under the RPSF, 2, 793 vulnerable VCDP farmers will receive agro inputs including certified seeds, NPK/Urea fertilizers and herbicides to support their farming activities.

“VCDP will also provide extension services to targeted farmers who will also receive training on good economic practices to application of fertilizers and agro-chemical as well as farm management.” She said.

Dr Aliyu emphasised that the programme was designed to mitigate the effect of COVID 19 pandemic on farming activities and called for proper management of the inputs.

The Commissioner for Agriculture in the State, Chief Ogodoali Nomeh called for effective utilization of the inputs warning that any beneficiary caught selling them would be prosecuted.

“If you sell any of these, you have lost; a bag of Ebonyi fertilizer is sold at N22,000, Urea fertilizer is sold between N18000 and N19000 while a carton of herbicides is N150,000.

“I don’t know any of the beneficiaries, not even those coming from my local government, but what’s important is that you make use of what is given to you today by IFAD to add value to your life,” Nomeh said.

A rice farmer, Mr Augustine Njoku described the distribution as timely and assured the Federal government of their resolve to put them into good use.

It was gathered that each of the beneficiary went home with at least fifty kilogramme of rice seedling, NPK/Urea Fertilizer, Chemicals and other inputs.

      COV/AMECHI