IFAD LAUNCHES DRY SEASON FARMING IN EBONYI, PROVIDES INPUTS

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has launched 2023/2024 Dry Season farming with the provision of farm inputs to one hundred and fifty rice farmers captured in its Value Chain Development Programme in Ebonyi State.

At the event at Odomowo Inyimagu in Ikwo Local Government Area, the National Programme Coordinator IFAD Value Chain, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, said the support was to enhance food security through good agronomic practices.

The launch took place at a rice farm cluster occupying a vast swampy plain stretching from Inyimagu Ikwo into the Cross River State boundary line.

In line with the IFAD marching grant intervention programme, the one hundred and fifty farmers were provided with herbicides, fertilizers, solar powered irrigation pumps and capacity building for dry season farming.

The National Programme Coordinator of IFAD, Dr. Aliyu, represented by Mr. Musa Lalong, commended Ebonyi State Government for paying its one hundred million naira counterpart fund and urged the farmers to take advantage of the support to expand their rice cultivation.

Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State represented by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs. Nkechinyere Iyioku, noted that for Nigeria to achieve food security, genuine farmers must be supported to engage in dry Season farming.

The State Programme Coordinator IFAD in Ebonyi State, Dr. Sunday Ituma, explained that IFAD spent fifty-four million naira for the intervention.

He informed that technical experts would visit the state to fabricate free energy water pumps to support the ones on ground.

Two farmers, Mrs. Ogechi Nnadozie and Mr. Patrick Ugbuloke, said they welcome the idea of dry season farming but called for more irrigation machines for sustainability.

Highlight of the event was a test run of the solar powered water pumps, which would be deployed by the farmers.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU