EBONYI STATE FARMERS GEAR UP TO DRY SEASON FARMING
FADAMA Three has distributed tools and agro inputs to over one thousand farmers for the commencement of Dry Season Rice Cultivation under its Additional Financing Project in Ebonyi State.
The National Coordinator of FADAMA Three Project, Prince Joseph Adewumi and the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Kekechi Igwe performed the official launch of the programme in Izzi Local Government Area of the State.
Speaking at the event, which took place at Ndierukwu Irrigation Site Ndieze in Izzi Local Government Area, the National Coordinator of FADAMA Three Project, Prince Adewumi explained that Ebonyi State was selected for the programme because of its track record and natural endowment in rice production.
Prince Adewumi noted that the State had benefited from other Assisted Programmes including Global Environmental Facility and called for the preparation of business plans for the commencement of Cassava Production under FADAMA Three Additional Financing Project.
“Continue to massively producing rice. Once the success is highly recorded, we will go into the second value chain and with the massive support we are getting from the Government of Ebonyi State cassava production in Ebonyi State is hereby approved.”
The Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Kelechi Igwe emphasized that the State Government had also embarked on Dry Season Rice Farming and would continue to give necessary support to all International Partners contributing towards agricultural development in the area.
“So I appeal to you to bring your agricultural inputs and money that we are supporting the farmers without muscling. In Ebonyi State, we have our peculiarities and we are very conscious of it.”
The State Coordinator of FADAMA Three Project, Dr. Cletus Nwakpu explained that one thousand four hundred and fifty hectares of land had been prepared for the programme which would cost ₦350, 000,000.00 (three hundred and fifty million naira).
“Out of this the World Bank will be contributing about ₦280, 000,000.00 and farmers will be contributing ₦78,000,000.00. And this cost include cost of land preparation, cost of fertilizer and some essential asserts.” Some of the benefiting Farmers including Mr. Linus Nworu and Joseph Nwokwu commended FADAMA and the Stage Government for the support.
“Each group will have 15 bags of rice. They will give us 4 water pumps, give us fertilizer.”
“I equally ask government to help all those areas there is (are) land, they should equally dig dams.”
The event featured a manual demonstration of rice transplanting by the National Coordinator of FADAMA Three, the Deputy Governor of the State and the State Commissioner for Agriculture.
by
AMECHI ODO