joshua
By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor Chief Francis Nwifuru has flagged off the distribution of modern agricultural equipments, farm inputs to over two thousand six hundred genuine rice and cassava farmers, drawn from eight local government areas under FGN/IFAD-Ebonyi State Value chain development programme.
The equipments includes, tractors, tricycles, stiching, thresher, irrigation machines, solar power pumps, garri fryers, bio data, bags of fertilizer and many others.
Flagging off the exercise, the Governor represented by his wife Chief (Mrs) Mary Maudline Nwifuru noted that the intiative is in line with the vision of the State Government in empowering rural communities and fostering agricultural development in the State, describing agriculture as the backbone of the State’s economy.
According to the Governor “Ebonyi State is renewed with the rich agricultural heritage particularly in rice and cassava through the partnership with IFAD. We are not only reaffirming our commitment to the development of this critical value chain but also enhancing the livelihood of our hardworking farmers”
“The distribution of modern equipments for production, processing and marketing represent a significant steps in mechanizing and modernizing agriculture in our State”
“BERWO foundation is working hard to support farmers especially in the rural areas with necessary inputs for a better agricultural practice”
The Governor further observed that the intiative would not only help farmers to cultivate and process rice and cassava effectively but make it more competitive both local and international markets and assured governments readiness to piriotize on agriculture to boost economic growth of the State.
The Governor applauded IFAD for ensuring the programme come into fruition and charged the beneficiaries to embrace modern agricultural practice and collaborate to create value chain in their various communities.
Earlier in a remark, the State programme coordinator Mr Sunday Ituma said IFAD is committed to providing verities of modern farming equipments to reduce the difficulties faced by farmers in the State.
He commended Governor Nwifuru for releasing the sum of 200 million naira to support the programme, saying that IFAD has supplied solar pumping machines and other equipments to the farmers who are into dry season farming in a bid to ensure food sufficiency in the State.
Ituma added the partnership between the State Government and IFAD would continue to improve livelihood and provide food security for farmers and enhance youths and women empowerements.
He disclosed that IFAD would embark on 2 billion naira infrastructural projects this year in addition to other numerous interventions scattered across various local government areas including mini bridges, market infrastructures, solar power boreholes, roads among others while expressing optimism that the beneficiaries would use equipments effectively to achieve the set objectives.
The State Commissioner for agriculture and natural resources Princess Nkechi Iyioku extolled the State Governor Francis Nwifuru for paying 200 million counterpart fund to IFAD.
The commissioner noted that the State embraced practical agriculture to ensure food security so as to maintain the agricultural name in which the State was known for, adding that Governor Nwifuru since his assumption of office in the State has continued to ensure yearly provision of agro inputs, seedlings and herbicides to farmers to ensure zero hunger, agricultural productivity, food security among others.
She charged the farmers to use the opportunity wisely towards ensuring full realization of food security intiative of Chief Francis Nwifuru whom she described as agricultural friendly Governor and commended the IFAD Coordinator and his team for implementing the agricultural policies of the State Government.
In their seperate remarks, the chairman of the occasion who doubles as the senior special assistant to the Governor on agriculture Hon. Anthony Nwegede and chairman house committee on agriculture Hon. Onyebuchi Ogbadu praised Nwifuru for always assisting farmers in the State which according to them has reduced hunger and boost economic productivity.
The duo enjoined the farmers to use the opportunity judiciously for the betterment of the State and the large society.
Meanwhile, the benefitted farmers appreciated the State Government and IFAD for providing them the opportunity and promise to utilize it effectively.
