IFAD/VCDP DISTRIBUTES OVER N87 MILLION WORTH OF FARM EQUIPMENT TO EBONYI FARMERS

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has distributed agricultural equipment worth over N87 million to registered farmers’ organizations in eight participating local government areas of Ebonyi State.

At the handover of the equipment at IFAD Office Onuebonyi, Abakaliki, Governor Francis Nwifuru, in a message, said his administration was committed to prioritizing interventions in the agricultural sector to ensure food security.

The distributed equipment, which were basically for rice and cassava production include destoners, planters, sprayers, power tillers, tricycles and NPK fertilizers.

They were distributed under the Federal Government, IFAD Ebonyi State Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), which is being implemented in eight local Government areas of the state since 2015.

Represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Ebonyi State, Mrs. Chinyere Iyioku, Governor Francis Nwifuru said the state government was impressed with the programme and had released N100 million as a counterpart fund.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Development, Mrs. Chioma Nweze, said the Presidency would renew its partnership with IFAD at the end of the Value Chain Development programme considering its impact in rural communities.

The National Programme Coordinator of Federal government, IFAD/VCDP, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, represented by the Human Resource Development Advisor, Alhaji Gidado Bello, said IFAD would continue to play its role of facilitating more empowerment of farmers in the state.

The State Project Coordinator, Dr. Sunday Ituma, explained that the benefitting organizations contributed 30% of the total cost of the equipment and assured them that the second batch of the distribution would take place in the state.

One of the benefitting farmers, Chief Emmanuel Ede, expressed gratitude to the Federal government, IFAD and the Ebonyi State Government for supporting farmers to produce food in the state.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU