IFAD AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DISTRIBUTE AGRO EQUIPMENT TO 458 FARMERS IN ENUGU

Agricultural equipment worth millions of naira have been distributed to 458 rural farmers in Enugu State by the International Fund for Agricultural Development–Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) in collaboration with the Federal Government.

At the event, Enugu state Governor,  PETER MBAH, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, PATRICK UBRU, saidagriculture remained a priority of his administration, urging beneficiaries to use the equipment judiciously and seek technical support from VCDP when necessary.

The National Programme Coordinator of VCDP, FATIMA ALIYU, represented by the Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Advisor, MUSA DALANG, while commending MBAH for releasing counterpart funds which enabled the intervention, admitted that the project had transformed livelihoods of rural farmers across Nigeria, turning many into successful entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, the State Programme Coordinator, EDWARD ISIWU, explained that programme had supported over 9,000 farmers in Enugu since 2020 with inputs and equipment for cassava and rice value chains, adding that beneficiaries would be monitored to ensure proper use.

Items including 38 tricycles, three paddy rice steam parboilers, 15 rice destoners, 50 energy-saving stoves, 10 rice threshers, 50 knapsack sprayers, 20 seed planters, among others, were distributed to beneficiaries drawn from Aninri, Enugu East, Nkanu East, Isi Uzo and Udenu Local Government Areas, where IFAD-VCDP is intervening in rice and cassava production, processing and marketing.