The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD- VCDP) has set aside N252 million for the provision of agro inputs and equipment to farmers affected by flood to embark on dry season farming in the nine implementing states of VCDP programme.
Fatima Aliyu, the National Programme Coordinator of the FG/IFAD- VCDP, stated this at the handing over of farm inputs to 23 farmers’ groups in Lafia.
Aliyu, who was represented by Safiriyu Alabi, said IFAD has approved additional N467,880,000 to the VCDP to further provide support to farmers that have been affected by the floods.
The Programme Coordinator said, the distribution of the items and the earmarked funds, was part of FG/IFAD- VCDP Flood Recovery Strategy Support (FRSS) to farmers to mitigate the effect of flood that ravaged farm lands in the state.
“We are here today to witness the distribution of the support to the farmers, which consist of agro inputs and water pumps to boost their dry season farming.
“A total of 1495 farmers will be
Supported across the nine (9) VCDP participating states of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, and Taraba to produce rice during the current dry season.
“We believed that this support by the FGN/IFAD VCDP will go a long way in alleviating the adverse effects of the flood and assist our farmers to recover from their losses and restore their livelihoods,” the National Programme Coordinator added.
Aliyu further that, they would deploy climate adaptation strategies such as flood tolerant rice varieties, climate resilient and other climate smart agric technologies to reduce the effects of future floods on our farmers
She commended the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mahmood Abubakar for his concern to the farmers affected by the floods, and for quickly approving their request to reallocate funds to provide succor to these farmers.
She also lauded Governor Abdullahi Sule for his commitment and support to the VCDP in the state.
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Eunice Adgidzi, the Nasarawa State Coordinator of FG/IFAD-VCDP said, as part of it Flood Recovery Strategy Support (FRSS), they are distributing agro inputs and equipment to 23 farmers’ associations, comprising of 107 farmers that were recently affected by flood in the state.
Rifkatu Jatau, who stood in for the state programme coordinator listed 4, 240 kg of rice seeds (faro 44), 636 bags of fertilisers, 212 litres of selective and non selective herbicides, and 40 water-pumps as some of the items distributed to the beneficiaries in the state.
Adgidzi added that, the donation was aimed at assisting the victims of the flood disaster to recover from their huge losses.
She advised the beneficiaries, drawn from Lafia, Doma, Karu, Nasarawa and Wamba local governments to use the inputs given them to better their livelihood.
Nuhu Oshafu, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Water Resources lauded VCDP for the intervention to complement the efforts of the state government.
The Commissioner, who was represented by Muhammed Azara, expressed the willingness of the state government to partner individuals and groups interested in the development of the state.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Akila Danlami expressed gratitude to VCDP and Nasarawa State Government for the support.
Danlami decried how thier rice farm was destroyed by the recent flood and expressed optimism that with the support offering them, they would be on thier feat again and continue thier farming activities.
Some of the items distributed to 23 farmers’ associations in Lafia.
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