Imo kicks off agric revolution in 4 crops as NDDC begins release of $30m IFAD partnership fund

…As 4,250 agripreneurs begin orientation in Owerri

Imo State last weekend kicked off its agric revolution with 4,259 agripreneurs starting with four crops (rice cassava, poultry and fishery). This was made possible as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) began release of $30m in the FG/IFAD/NDDC LIFE ND scheme. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) brought $60m as loan for the Federal Government of Nigeria while the NDDC and Imo State government contributed their parts.

The 4,250 beneficiaries are said to be part of the 12,750 youths, women, and the vulnerable from the three states of Imo, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom that have been brought on by the gradual release of the $30m partnership fund by the NDDC to join the six earlier states of Cross River, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Abia, and Ondo, who together make up 38,250 beneficiaries of the new agric business revolution in the Niger Delta.

The orientation of the three states began with Rivers State in Port Harcourt and has rolled to Imo State whose agric belts are made up of three distinctive agricultural zones (Okigwe, Orlu, and Owerri) with produce crops like maize, yam, cocoyam, rice, cassava, palm oil, vegetables and plantain in abundance from extensive fertile farmlands. Palm oil is also a cash crop as well as export potential.

Agric practice in Imo State however has known challenges such as poor infrastructure, limited access to technology especially tractors, fertilizer, pesticides, and ravaging thieves who freely reap where they did not sow. There is also adverse weather of recent with unpredictable rainfall which has ravaged farmlands as well as fear of herdsmen. Other challenges are listed as pests and diseases, inadequate access to credit, and inefficient agricultural practices.

Experts have put forward suggestions such as to diversify product offerings to create opportunities for market differentiation, explore new markets to mitigate the impact of market volatility, reconstruct the irrigation system to solve the problem of unreliable rainfall, develop the usage of solar or wind power systems, intervention in fertilizer procurement to reduce burden on rural women, create forest guards, strengthen rural justice system (community trials of offenders) and support community presidents-general to create vigilantes that protect their areas.

Read also: 4,250 Rivers agripreneurs begin training in PH as NDDC/IFAD $30m scheme rolls off

In her welcome address at the Owerri event, Victoria Igboanugo, the Imo State Project Coordinator of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE ND) project, noted that huge appreciation must go to Gov Hope Uzodinma who she said was the first governor to release state’s counterpart fund to fire up the desire in the project. She said the fund was what sustained the project in the state before the NDDC fund came in.

Igboanugo said: “The financial commitment of NDDC towards the end of last year cannot be forgotten in a hurry, for they (NDDC) are our backbone and we appreciate them so much, but just like Oliver Twist ‘we want some more’ and we are hopeful that they (NDDC) is ever-willing to do their best as we so much believe in their ability to deliver.

“Let me also appreciate my indefatigable National Project Coordinator, Abiodun Sanni, and his team for all their support and encouragement as well as technical backstopping which is our major strength, to you sir I doff my cap.”

She urged the incubators and incubates to be ready for the beginning of a life-changing opportunity for collaboration and wealth creation through Agriculture. “The incubator\incubatee model adopted by LIFE-ND is a world class model being practised in the south-east states for centuries and as such it is not a new strategy to us, showing that we will execute this mandate without hitches. It is hoped that this project will produce numerous incubators annually and through this a sustainable food security will be maintained in Imo State.”

She reminded all that the LIFE-ND is anchored by the IFAD, an arm of the United Nations (UN) with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as lead Agency at the federal level with Imo State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as lead project Agency at the state level.

She said the project will promote job creation, self-sufficiency, food security, and reduce youth restiveness. “Firstly, the massive attendance of incubators and incubatees is evidence that Imo people are very excited and passionate about the project.

“Also, the fact that Imo State Governor was the first governor to pay the state counterpart fund among the NDDC States is clear that the state accepts the project with full enthusiasm.”

Speaking, the Imo State Representative in the NDDC, Kyrian Uchegbu, said the state is dear to the managing director of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, who he said warned against misuse of the fund released to the state for the project.

He said the project development objective is to enhance income, job creation, and food security for the rural youth and women through agribusinesses and enterprise development in sustainable manner for the Niger Delta region.

In her intervention, the NDDC director of agriculture and fisheries, Winifred Madume, advised all the 12,250 new entrants from the three new states to realise that the success of the programme rests on them. “You may have heard success stories from beneficiaries in neighbouring Niger Delta states, where this project has brought about transformative change. Our staff remain closely engaged with beneficiaries to monitor their progress, offering guidance and addressing challenges along the way. Your success here is not only a personal achievement but a testament to your commitment and potential as future agribusiness entrepreneurs within your communities.”

In his opening remarks for the three states, the national project coordinator, Sanni, said through this training, they aim to build the capacity of young agripreneurs, enabling them to actively participate in the agricultural value chain, drive innovation, and contribute to the economic growth of rural communities.

“The LIFE-ND project is more than just providing resources; it is about empowering our youth to take ownership of their future, foster community development, and create lasting impact in their respective regions.”

Some of the participants interviewed showed enthusiasm for success and promised to give the project their best efforts.

Ends/

Inline image

L-R: Anthonia Esenwa (National officer, LIVE-ND; Kyrian Uchegbu (NDDC Rep in Imo State; Victoria Igboanugo (Imo State Coordinator); Cosmas Maduwuba (Imo State Commissioner of Agric); and Stella Manureh Gbaine (NDDC Rep at the national office)