IFAD begins distribution of inputs to 4, 515 rice, cassava farmers in Anambra  

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), has commenced distribution of farm inputs worth N728 million to 4,515 rice and cassava farmers in Anambra.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the distribution is for the 2017 wet-season farming in five local government areas participating in VCDP.

Speaking at the occasion on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanisation, Processing and Export, Mr Afam Mbanefo, said that government was determined to make agriculture a business and major source of income for farmers.

Represented by Mr Leo Imoka, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mbanefo urged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by utilising the inputs judiciously to boost agriculture.

He said that government was investing over N100 million including provision yam seedings to boost production of yam for export.

Mr Emmanuel Aguncha, the state Programme Coordinator, VCDP, said that the inputs were targeted at 296 farmer organisations on 8,999 hectares of farmland.

He said that IFAD would pay N364 million as its counterpart fund while the farmers would pay a matching grant of N364 million.

He said that each rice farmer would receive 50kg of rice seeds, four bags of NPK, two bags of urea fertilizer and four litres of herbicide per hectare.

The coordinator added that each cassava farmer would get four bags of NPK, 50 bundles of cassava stems, three litres of herbicide and two grant of artrazine per hectare of farmland.

“The benefitting farmers were selected from Awka North, Anambra East, Anambra West, Orumba North and Ayamelum Local Government areas.

“Our emphasis is more on youths and women; we are also going to provide on the spot training for them on how to use the inputs,“he said.

Aguncha said that the e-wallet system was used for the programme.

He advised the farmers to utilize the inputs judiciously, saying the objective was to assist them increase productivity and income.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Adaeze Ukwuego, a rice farmer, commended the government and VCDP for the early distribution of the inputs.

She assured that the items would be judiciously utilised.