As part of efforts to boost agro processing and mechanisation, the Value Chain Development Programme has distributed N109 million worth of agro equipment to 840 rural farmers in Enugu State.
The items distributed included 500 bags of fertilisers, 10 tricycles, 55 water pumps, 115 knapsack sprayers, five fufu pounder, 50 seed planters and five rice milling machines.
Others were five haulers and polishing machines, 10 grater cassava polishing machines, 20 rice harvesters and 25 starter packs for confectioneries. Also, 40 of the 840 farmers supported were empowered with Point of Sales (POS) devices.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Peter Mbah expressed his administration’s readiness to support the IFAD/FGN programme in the state.
Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia thanked IFAD/FGN for the partnership with the state.
He commended the organisation for its commitment in assisting farmers through its programmes aimed at increasing food production in the state.
Patrick Ubro, Commissioner for Agriculture presents weighing scales to beneficiaries
He further lauded the IFAD-VCDP for focusing largely on women empowerment, saying that the approach would help to reduce poverty in the rural communities and directed that all the equipment to be given to the farmers, should be closely monitored.
In her remarks, the National Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, thanked Governor Mbah for paying off the outstanding four years arrears of the counterpart funds, describing the governor’s gesture as a testament of the state government’s commitment towards the development of agriculture and poverty reduction in the state.
She further advocated the judicious use of the equipment by the beneficiaries, urging them not to disappoint the state government that had immensely supported the programme.
Earlier in a welcome address, the State Programme Coordinator, Dr. Edward Isiwu, said that the VCDP initiative was tailored along market development and productivity enhancement in rice and cassava value chains production respectively.
According to him, the programme is aimed at reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, and accelerating economic growth on a sustainable basis.
Dr Isiwu said that they had built five cassava mills and over six rice mills and created employment for people.
A beneficiary, Casmir Odo, who got a tricycle, thanked the state government and VCDP for the kind gesture.