By Roland Ike
The Federal Government in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme, has distributed farm inputs to 2, 600 farmers in Ebonyi State.
The inputs were distributed during the beginning of the Agency’s agricultural equipment/input distribution exercise at the IFAD/VCDP office in Abakaliki.
The items distributed included rice planters and harvesters, de-stoning machines, water pumps, rice milling machines, and cassava processing machines.
Others are motorcycles, tricycles, threshers, stitching machines and planters.
In a message to the ceremony, the state Governor, Francis Nwifuru commended IFAD/VCDP programme for the gesture noting that the move would go a long in tackling food insecurity in the state.
Represented by his wife, Mrs Uzoamaka Nwifuru, the governor said his administration would continue to make agriculture one of it’stop priorities.
“This inputs are good in our efforts to encourage mechanised farming among farmers in the state and boost food production.
“The state government is commitment to continuing to give the needed support to the federal government and IFAD in order to ensure the success of the programme in the state.
“I urge all the beneficiaries to make good use of the equipment and the federal and state government at ensuring zero hunger for the citizens.
“You must work to make our state a hub for food food production,” the Governor advised.
In a similar message, the National Programme Coordinator, Dr Fatima Aliyu, said the programme focused on the rural poor farmers.
Aliyu, represented by the the State Programme Coordinator of the FGN/IFAD VCDP, Mr Sunday Ituma explained that a total of 2600 farmers benefited from the inputs.
This is made up of 1, 000 farmers for the dry season inputs, 1, 000 persons for equipment and 600 beneficiaries for the wet season inputs.
A beneficiary, Mr Dickson Udu said he was happy with the gesture and pledged to utilise the equipment judiciously.
