EDITOR: EZINWANNE OKWUOLISA
The International Fund for Agricultural Development IFAD in Enugu state, under its Value Chain Development Programme VCDP, with its development partners have distributed agro- equipment to 553 registered farmers in five Local Government Areas of Enugu state, comprising Aninri, Enugu East, Isi-Uzo, Nkanu East and Udenu Local Government Areas of Enugu state.
Performing the flag-off of the distribution of the agro-equipment at the Michael Okpara Square, the Governor of Enugu state , Dr Peter Mbah, urged beneficiaries to treat the equipment as a responsibility rather than an endowment. He said the state’s agricultural strategy extends beyond production to processing, storage, marketing and improved incomes.
Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, called on farmers to properly use, maintain and protect the equipment, stressing that its success would be measured by increased production, stronger businesses, improved household welfare and greater economic activity.
The SSG commended the Federal Government, IFAD, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation and other partners, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to partnerships that place productive assets in the hands of its people
In his speech, Enugu State Programme Coordinator, IFAD- Assisted VCDP , Dr Edward Chukwuka Isiwu, said the programme was addressing limited access to equipment, labour-intensive operations, post-harvest losses and inadequate value addition.
Dr. Isiwu explained that IFAD contributed 70 per cent of the equipment cost, while beneficiaries contributed 30 per cent.
The equipment includes 150 tricycles, 200 water pumps, solar-powered irrigation pumps, power tillers, threshers, destoners, digital weighing scales, sprayers, rice and cassava processing machines and other machinery..
According to Dr. Isiwu, the intervention was designed to improve production, transportation, processing, value addition, market access and reduce post-harvest losses.
The Enugu state Coordinator said the programme had also distributed more than 5,000 bags of agricultural inputs, including fertilisers, agrochemicals, rice seeds and cassava stems. Since its inception, VCDP has supported over 9,000 farmers, especially women and youths.
Other achievements include the construction of 15 rice processing centres, 21 cassava processing centres and 35 solar-powered water boreholes, as well as market stores, aggregation centres, parboiling sheds, drying slabs, culverts and other rural infrastructure. The programme has also developed about 575 hectares of farmland, energised 16 processing centres and established market linkages among farmers, off-takers and financial institutions.
He urged beneficiaries to ensure that the equipment serves their cooperatives and communities, expressing confidence that the intervention would improve food security, create jobs, reduce poverty and increase farmers’ incomes.
In her speech, the National Programme Coordinator , Value Chain Development Programme, Abuja, Dr. Fatima Aliyu ,who was represented by Musa Dalang commended Enugu state Governor, Dr Peter Mbah for his investment in Agriculture, especially, for providing counterpart funds.
The beneficiaries expressed joy, receiving the agro- equipment. They thanked the Federal Government, Enugu state government, IFAD/VCDP and Development partners for their support. They said the equipment would help them to increase and add value to their production.
