By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki – The additional financing programme of the International Fund for Agricutlural Development (IFAD)-Value Chain Assisted Programme (VCDP) is set to enhance the productive potentials of the Ebonyi farmers.
Mr Sunday Ituma, State Programme Coordinator (SPC) of the IFAD-VCDP in Ebonyi disclosed this in Abakaliki during the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN)/VCDP Commodity Fair, adding that the programme would commence in January 2020.
Ituma said that the additional financing programme which was signed with the FGN, would last until 2023 and enhance mechanisms for farmers engaged in production activities, processing and marketing of value chain produce of rice and cassava.
“The IFAD-VCDP and the FGN approved the additional financing due to the successes recorded in its current intervention originally scheduled to end on Dec. 31.
“The programme also approved that the additional financing be implemented in three additional Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state, including the existing five LGA of intervention.
“This will assist farmers produce optimally, create more outreach for them and provide robust activities in terms of rural infrastructure, construction of markets, farm roads among others,” he said.
The SPC said that the commodity fair was borne from the fact of IFAD-VCDP being ‘market-led’ which ensured that farmers had outlets for their produce before giving them support.
“We work with the ‘off-takers’ and link our farmers to them while ensuring that periodically we review the approaches; we support all through the value chain.
“This includes the production activities as selected farmers showcase their produce: rice, cassava including value addition though on a small scale.
“The off-takers also have the opportunity of demonstrating improvement they have made in their processing activities over time,” he said.
He appreciated the state government led by Gov. David Umahi for giving the programme the necessary enablement in terms of counterpart funding and disposition of interacting with him.
Dr Rita Okoro, Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, described IFAD-VCDP sojourn in the state as successful and pledged the state government’s continued collaboration.
“The programme has given immense support to government policies and programmes towards agricultural development.
“We are happy to see what is happening in the state’s agricultural sector and would readily offer any form of support to the programme to continue thriving,” she said.
Mr Olisa Mokelu, Ebonyi Branch Manager of the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), said that the corporation would continue offering insurance services to ameliorate the risks suffered by farmers in their agricultural endeavours.
Mrs Cynthia Edeze, a Participant at the fair, said that it would enable her to showcase her cassava produce and learn new methods of enhancing its yield.