IFAD-VCDP to establish animal feed processing plant worth N2m in Niger

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) on rice and cassava has began installation of machines to establish two million naira animal feed processing plant in Niger.

Dr Mathew Ahmed, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC), made this known in Minna on Thursday at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on mid-term review mission on value chain.

“The IFAD-VCDP has finalised plans to set up animal feed processing plant in Lokogoma, Wushishi Local Government Area of the state.

“We have acquired the machines and it will cost two million naira to set up the factory including the cost of machines,’’ he said.

Ahmed said that by Saturday, the engineers and technicians would have completed the installation of the machines and other works in the engineering unit.

He disclosed that out of the sum, IFAD-VCDP would contribute 70 per cent, while the VCDP cassava producers and processors in the area would pay the 30 per cent balance.

The programme coordinator stated that the raw materials for the production of the feed would be cassava peels.

“The choice of Wushishi to establish the plant is because the farmers produce cassava in large quantity,’’ he said.

He said that after establishing the agri-business, the farmers would take ownership, stressing that they would continue to do business after the programme by June 2020.

According to Ahmed, there are 13, 000 farmers participating in rice and cassava value chain in the state.

Inaugurating the meeting, Alhaji Yusuf Kagara, the Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the VCDP had added value to the agricultural sector by training farmers on modern techniques.

“Our farmers have adopted mechanised farming which has increased their yields and income,’’ he said.

Kagara said that the state government had also adopted the Federal Government’s various agricultural intervention programmes such as the VCDP, FADAMA and others to develop its agriculture sector.

Also speaking, Alhaji Ndako Ndanusa, the Acting Farm Manager, Migibo Corporative Society, Bida, urged the VCDP to put in place measures that would make good use of surplus cassava crops.

Ndanusa said that the IFAD-VCDP training had brought about modern farming techniques in cultivating cassava which has resulted in increased productivity.