Agriculture
THE International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)’s Value Chain Development programme (VCDP) on Monday distributed assorted farm inputs to 850 dry season farmers in Taraba.
Dr Fatima Aliyu, National Coordinator of VCDP made the declaration at the flag off of the 2024/2025 Inputs distribution for rice farmers in Jalingo.
Aliyu, represented by Alhaji Haruna Goni, Special Assistant to the National Coordinator, said that the programme was focused on supporting rural households involved in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava.
She noted that the VCDP was being implemented in nine states of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun and Taraba, covering 63 Local Government Areas across the
States.
The national coordinator said that the objective of VCDP was to sustainably enhance the incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in rice
and cassava production, processing, and marketing.
‘Today’s event is special because we are starting the process of
distributing farm inputs to our farmers in these local government areas.
“This support is done on a 50:50 cost-sharing basis, meaning that farmers
contribute half of the cost, and the programme covers the rest.
“A total of 852 farmers will benefit, each farming about one hectare,” she said.
Aliyu commended Taraba government for it’s support towards the implementation of the programme.
She also commended Gov. Agbu Kefas for being up to day on the payment of counter part finding.
She advised beneficiaries to utilize the inputs in order to improve on the nations’food security.
In his remark, Prof.Nicholas Namessan, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, thanked the Federal Government and IFAD- VCDP for the provision of farm inputs to farmers over the years.
Namessan said that the support has enabled farmers to effectively implement well researched and proven technologies boosting rice and cassava production in the state.
According to him, farmers have seen increased income and improved living standards while contributing to food security to the broader community.
The commissioner further stated that Gov. Kefas has recognized the critical role of agriculture, hence he demonstrated the commitment to meeting it’s counter part funding obligations to IFAD/VCDP.
He warned the beneficiaries not to sell their items in the market, threatening to prosecute any beneficiary that would be found selling the items.
Earlier, Mr Irimiya Musa, Taraba VCDP State Programme Coordinator (SPC), said that the early distribution of the farm inputs was to enhance food production through dry season farming.
Irimiya, who noted that food crisis in the country was a problem to all, urged beneficiaries to make good use of the inputs.
He announced that each of the rice farmers would be given four bags of NPK and two bags of UREA fertilisers.
He added that the farmers would be given two bags of improved rice seedlings of 50 kg as well as herbicides for pre-mergence and post-emergence.
The state coordinator thanked the governor for paying the counterpart funding to VCDP., adding that the support has engendered smooth implementation of the programme in the state.
He gave assurance that the programme would continue to improve on the food security profile of the state.
One of the beneficiaries Mr Audu Dogo, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria commended the FGN/ IFAD VCDP for their support to farmers.
Dogo gave assurances that the farmers would make good use of the inputs. (NAN)
18th November, 2024.
C.E
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