By Henry C. Anagboso
Over 500 farmers in Anambra State have on Oct 26 benefited from the distribution of agricultural equipment by the State Ministry of Agriculture under the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP). The intervention aims to improve agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, create employment opportunities and increase the incomes of rural farmers across the state.
The equipment distributed included 49 tricycles, 84 power tillers, 80 solar-powered water pumps, 200 knapsack sprayers and fertiliser applicators, 29 sets of cassava-processing equipment and 10 sets of rice-processing equipment. Cooking demonstration equipment was also provided for 50 women to promote improved food preparation and nutrition practices.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Awka, the member representing Aguata Constituency II in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Anthony Muobike, commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for supporting the programme and promoting sustainable agricultural development. He urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the equipment to achieve the objectives of the intervention.
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Chinwe Achugbu, represented by Mrs Ify Onyenwe, commended VCDP for its contributions to improving farmers’ livelihoods. She also appreciated the state government for providing an enabling environment for agricultural development.
In her reaction, the State Programme Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Dr Deborah Onyefulu, said the intervention was designed to strengthen the participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in agricultural value chains. She explained that the initiative would increase rural incomes, create employment, reduce poverty and contribute to the state’s economic growth and internally generated revenue.
She added that the equipment support was part of efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural development, particularly among vulnerable groups and low-income rural farmers. Onyefulu cautioned beneficiaries against selling the equipment, disclosing that a monitoring team had been established to ensure that the items were used for their intended purposes. She stressed that the sustainability of the intervention depended on beneficiaries’ commitment to using and maintaining the equipment responsibly.
In his contribution, the Acting State Agricultural Production Officer for Value Chain, Mr Matthew Okafor, said beneficiaries were selected through liaison officers across the programme’s nine participating local government areas in Anambra State.
He explained that beneficiaries were required to contribute 30 per cent of the cost of the equipment, while the government covered the remaining 70 per cent. Okafor urged farmers to request only equipment relevant to their needs, noting that the intervention was intended to support those who genuinely required assistance to improve their agricultural activities.
Also speaking, the Acting Business and Market Development Officer of VCDP in Anambra State, Mrs Mary Obiekwe, said 50 selected farmers would each receive a tricycle to ease the transportation of farm produce to markets. She also encouraged beneficiaries to maintain the equipment properly and cultivate a savings culture to support future repairs and replacement as the tricycles depreciated.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Onyebuchi Okoli, a member of the Destiny Farmers Cooperative in Isuaniocha, Awka North Local Government Area, expressed appreciation to VCDP for the support. Okoli, who engages in vegetable, cassava and fish farming, said the tricycle would significantly ease the transportation of her produce and improve her access to markets. The equipment distribution represents another intervention under FGN/IFAD-VCDP to strengthen agricultural value chains, improve rural livelihoods and promote inclusive economic opportunities for farmers in Anambra State.
Henry C. Anagboso is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
#Ministryofinformationandvaluareformation
#Informationiskey
#Solutionishere
