RICE FARMERS IN EBONYI GET ₦2.8BN WORTH OF MATERIAL ASSISTANCE

FADAMA III Additional Financing Project has distributed agro inputs and equipment to farmers valued at ₦2.8bn (two point eight billion Naira) for wet season rice production in Ebonyi State.

At the event at FADAMA Office Onuebonyi, Governor David Umahi reiterated the commitment of the state government towards prompt payment of its counterpart fund for the project to thrive in the area. The inputs and equipment include, Bags of fertilizers, Chemicals, Rice mill machines, Power tillers, Tricycles and Integrated rice threshers.

FADAMA Three Additional Financing Coordinator in Ebonyi State, Dr Cletus Nwakpu explained that the items were distributed to twelve thousand farmers grouped into eight hundred cooperative societies. He noted that they would cultivate twelve thousand hectres of rice farms while business plans had been approved to support three thousand farmers who would cultivate cassava this season.

Governor Umahi represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Rice Production, Chief Itapa Azobu emphasised that the state government would continue to collaborate with FADAMA Three and other donor agencies to make Ebonyi a leading producer of rice in West Africa. Some of the beneficiaries including Mr Charles Egwu and Mrs Franca Elechi commended FADAMA Three and the government for taking positive steps to mechanize rice farming in the state. Correspondent Amechi Odo reports that the benefiting farmers were drawn from six Local Government Areas in the state.

AMECHI ODO