More than 1000 cassava and rice farmers in Enugu state have benefited from farm input distributed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD through its Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP-AF to enhance their productivity.
The inputs which include fertilisers, faro 44 rice seedling variety, herbicides, insecticides and cassava stems was funded by IFAD in collaboration with Federal Government and Enugu State Government.
The Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who performed the flag-off ceremony for the distribution of the inputs for the 2022 wet season at the headquarters of Enugu East council area noted that the distribution of the inputs was timely, as it would complement what the state government was already putting in place for this cropping season.
Addressing the beneficiaries during the flag-off ceremony for the 2022 wet cropping season, for cassava and rice farmers at Enugu East Council Area for the five local government intervention areas, the Governor, represented by the Commissioner For Agriculture & Natural Resources, Dr. Mathew Idu, noted that Agriculture remained a place to be.
The Governor commended IFAD-VCDP, and called on the farmers to ensure they applied all the agronomic practices for increased productivity.
In a message, the National Programme Coordinator of VCDP, Dr. Fatima .K. Aliyu, represented by, the Agriculture Production Advisor FGN/IFAD-VCDP, Abuja, Dr. Chyka Victor Unamma, said he was in Enugu to officially declare open cropping season for their farmers, while noting that the inputs especially the cassava stems and rice seedlings were of high quality yields.
The IFAD-VCDP, National Programme Coordinator, commended the Governor, traditional rulers, LGA Chairmen of the five benefiting LGA’s for their support, urging the farmers to make effective use of the inputs.
In a remark, the Enugu State Programme Coordinator, VCDP, Dr. Edward Isiwu, said the programme had developed 30 hecters of farmland in Enugu East for cassava production, and was developing another, 30 hecters for farmers in Udenu LGA.
“Our intention is to make Enugu State a place where people will come for cassava stems and cassava roots
Dr. Isiwu, noted that the over 1495 beneficiaries of the programme cut across rural farmers from five benefiting local government areas of Nkanu East, Aninri, Enugu East, Udenu, and Isiguzo.
There were goodwill messages from traditional rulers, LGA Chairman, Enugu East, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Commodity Alliance forum.
