FG DISTRIBUTES AGRO INPUTS TO 264 POOR FARMERS IN ANAMBRA
REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
The Federal Government has distributed bags of rice seedlings, fertilizers and herbicides to 264 vulnerable farmers in Anambra State.
The poor farmers were selected from eight local government areas of the state after profiling them in 2021.
The farm inputs, which included herbicides, were distributed under the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), COVID -19 Pandemic Rural Poor Stimulus Facility Grant.
At the commencement of the distribution at Ogbaru Local Government Area, the National Coordinator , Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Dr. Fatima Aliyu, urged the beneficiaries to make proper use of the items in order to contribute to the food security measures of the Federal Government.
In a bid to cushion the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic on farmers, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, gave a grant to the Federal government tagged, “Rural Poor Stimulus Facility” through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Dr. Aliyu said the grant was meant to support vulnerable farmers in nine states across the country, including Anambra, to sustain production, enhance food security and accelerate their recovery from the negative impacts of the pandemic.
“VCDP will also provide extension services to targeted farmers, who will also receive training on good agronomic practices on application of fertilizers and agrochemicals, as well as farm management and climate smart agriculture,” Dr. Aliyu stated.
Represented by the Rural Infrastructure Engineer, Mr. Felix Oibiokpa, Dr. Aliyu said the VCDP would provide extension services to the beneficiaries who will also receive training on good agronomic practices on application of fertilizers and agro- chemicals as well as farm management and climate smart agriculture.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in Anambra State, Dr. Foster Ifejiofor, while commending the Federal Government for the inputs, called on the benefiting farmers to utilize the opportunity and ensure that they contributed towards the food security of the state and the country in general.
Also, the state Coordinator, Value Chain Development Program, Mr. Nnamdi Agwuncha, said the inputs would serve as a fall back effects of COVID-19 on the farmers.
“We know the pandemic really affected farmers and that is why government is providing these items for you. please make sure you make proper use of it,” he appealed.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Mr. Osita Elshaddai and Mrs. Agnes Nweke, thanked the government for the gesture while promising to make judicious use of the items for more productivity.
The benefiting farmers were drawn from eight local government areas of Anambra State.
They are Ogbaru, Orumba North, Ihiala, Orumba South, Awka North, Ayamelum, Anambra West, and Anambra East.
Each of the 264 vulnerable farmers received two bags of NPK fertilizer, one bag of Urea fertilizer, one liter of non selective and one liter of selective herbicides.
