By joshua 
Gov Nwifuru Flags Off Distribution Of Modern Agricultural Equipments To Farmers, 2025 Dry Season Farming In Ebonyi
By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki
The Governor of Ebonyi State Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has officially flagged off the distribution of modern agricultural equipments and inputs to farmers, 2025 dry season farming and commissioning of the 2024 IFAD-VCDP projects, as part of efforts to boost food security and rural livelihoods in the State.
The equipments and inputs included the following tillers, rice threshers, rice reapers, garri hydraulic press, nutrient dense, impulse dealers, tricycles, rice destoners, mobile milling machines, weighing scales, bags of fertilizers, cartons of herbicides, rice seedlings among others.
Speaking while flagging off the distribution of the equipments and inputs at IFAD- VCDP office, Onuebonyi in Abakaliki, the Governor represented by his amiable wife Chief (Mrs) Mary Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru described the flag-off of 2025 equipments, farming inputs and commissioning of the 2024 IFAD projects as another bold step towards food security, sustainable rural development and economic growth in the state.
The Governor commended IFAD- VCDP, particularly the National Programme Coordinator, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, for their continued partnership, which he said has empowered thousands of farmers and uplifted rural communities across Ebonyi State.
While reaffirming the commitment and dedication of his administration under the Peoples’ Charter of Needs to ensuring food security and sufficiency, the Governor noted that dry-season farming has become a vital source of income and stability for farmers, aligning with the government’s vision of increased productivity, stronger value chains and rural prosperity.
He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the inputs and equipments by adopting improved farming technologies, work collectively through cooperatives and treat agriculture as a business to ensure abundant food supply for Ebonyi State and Nigeria at large.
On her part, the National Coordinator of FGN/IFAD-VCDP Dr. Fatima Aliyu stated that VCDP has executed so many projects including building of 20 markets, toilet facilities, 20 solar powered boreholes ,12 cassava and rice processing centers, 21 mini-bridges to facilitate trade and investment among others as well as training of farmers into dry season farming in the State.
She added the VCDP has reach out to over 23,000 farmers in the State since inception and has provided over 664 rice and cassava processors across the LGA’s of coverage including Ohaukwu, Ishielu, Izzi, Ezza North, Ikwo, Ohaozara, Ivo and Afikpo North.
The National programme Coordinator commended Governor Nwifuru’s support especially clearing the backlogs of counterpart fund while extolling farmers for their resilence and dedication to the actualization of the VCDP projects and urged them never to relent.
Earlier in his remarks, the coordinator of IFAD-VCDP in Ebonyi State Chief Sunday Micheal Ituma disclosed that the State is presently pioneering dry season farming at Ikwo and other parts of the State.
He thanked the State Governor Chief Francis Nwifuru for his total support to the programme in the State especially the release of initial counterpart fund amounting to 100m in 2023, release of 2024 annual counterpart fund contribution of 200m, noting that over 230 direct employment would be created and other associated indirect benefits through this year’s equipments distribution.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Mrs. Nkechinyere Iyioku, commended Governor Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for what she described as exceptional leadership and sustained investment in repositioning agriculture as a driver of economic growth in the state.
According to her, the administration’s farmer-centred policies have transformed Ebonyi into a model of modern and productive agriculture, opening new opportunities for farmers while strengthening food security and economic development.
She also praised the First Lady of Ebonyi State, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudline Uzoamaka Nwifuru, for her unwavering support and passion for agriculture, noting that her encouragement has strengthened the ministry’s work and reinforced agriculture as the cornerstone of the state’s economic rebirth.
The commissioner disclosed that through IFAD-VCDP, the ministry has recorded far-reaching achievements across eight local government areas, including the construction of solar-powered boreholes, mini bridges, market stores, and modern rice and cassava processing centres to improve rural access, reduce post-harvest losses and enhance farmers’ incomes.
She added that farmers are now benefiting from a wide range of agricultural equipment such as tillers, threshers, irrigation tools, water pumps and planters, designed to reduce manual labour, increase efficiency and expand dry-season farming for year-round production.
The chairman of the occasion who doubles as the SSA to the Governor on agriculture Hon. Anthony Nwegede and chairman house committee on agriculture Hon. Onyebuchi Ogbadu hailed IFAD-VCDP projects as the State boast much agricultural development.
They appreciated Governor Nwifuru for his commitment and dedication to the transformation of agricultural sector in the State while urging farmers to engage actively in the projects to make the State food basket of the nation.
A beneficiary from Ndiechi Onuebonyi, Egbe Chinedu said the IFAD-VCDP projects has impacted positively in their lives and would continue to venture into agriculture in order the desired objectives to be attained.