The International Fund for Agricultural Development assisted Value Chain Development Programme has organised series of enlightenment programmes for three new benefitting LGAs of Ebonyi State on its operational modalities and interventions.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the IFAD national office approved additional financing and intervention in three new Local Government Areas of Ezza North, Ivo and Ohaukwu in Ebonyi State.
Sunday Ituma, the IFAD-VCDP State Programme Coordinator, said the enlightenment programmes would acquaint farmers in the councils the requirements needed to benefit from the programmes.
Ituma said: “They have to know what to do to access farm inputs, benefit from infrastructural interventions such as roads, culverts, need to pay matching grant, benefit from capacity building among others.
“They were advised to belong to cooperative societies, open bank accounts in order to benefit from our interventions while collaborating with us in developing business plans for them.
“Those in production activities were enlightened on the need to provide 50 per cent matching grant to access our interventions while the programme provides the balance of 50 per cent.
“The farmers engaged in infrastructural activities were informed to provide 10 per cent of the investment while the programme pays 90 per cent, but those in marketing and processing would provide 30 per cent of the equipment costs while we provide 70 per cent.”
Ituma noted that farmers in these councils would benefit from the additional financing scheme for the next three years as the programme was satisfied with the responses received from them.
According to him, the messages have adequately been driven in communities of these councils as farmers’ representatives and relevant stakeholders made useful contributions.
Fransisca Anya, the IFAD-VCDP Rural Institution Gender Youth Mainstreaming Officer in Ebonyi State, noted that over 304 farmer groups have been profiled in the three LGAs.
Anya said: “They were informed that IFAD-VCDP does not offer loans to farmers but intervene in forms of matching grants in farm input provisions.
“Farmers should change their mindset on the usage of the inputs and ensure they are judiciously utilised to enhance their farming productivity.”
Chief Basil Okeh, a farmer in Ohaukwu LGA, thanked IFAD-VCDP for extending its interventions in the council, pledging that farmers will ensure the effective utilisation of the interventions.
Judith Mbah, also a farmer in Ivo LGA, advised IFAD to ensure that women are equitably represented in its activities in the area because of their deep interest and commitment in farming activities.
NAN reports that IFAD-VCDP carries out its operations in Ikwo, Ohaozara, Ishielu, Izzi and Afikpo South LGAs of Ebonyi State.
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