International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) said it has trained over 17,000 farmers in the production of rice and cassava and injected over #17bn into the economy of Ebonyi state, which has qualified the state for the Project Performance Evaluation due to the implementation of IFAD projects.
he State Programme Coordinator of IFAD Value chain development Programme, Dr Michael Sunday Ituma disclosed this to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources during thier oversight function visit to IFAD VCDP Office.
Ituma revealed that the other states that joined Ebonyi include Enugu and Abuja and that the IFAD team will arrive at Ebonyi on the 16th of June, 2025 for an assessment that will last for a week .
He thanked the State Governnor Rt Hon Francis Ogbonnia Nwifuru for providing and paying all the needed counterpart funds and added that Ebonyi is fully prepared for the evaluation and assured of it’s success.
The Cordinator said that the selection of Ebonyi was done at Rome, the headquarters of IFAD adding that the composition of all components as provided in the manual work and budgets has been met by Ebonyi State.
The areas involved according to him include Infrastructure with mini bridges, culverts, roads, land developments and opening of lands for people to farm, and has also given supports to farmers by giving them farm inputs such as fertilizers, Agro Chemicals, Improved seedlings, and also engaged in capacity building training of farmers .
He concluded that the programme has injected over #17bn into the economy of the state and then wanted the State’ House of Assembly to give IFAD a robust partnership in terms of making laws that will. be favourable to farmers.
Responding, the chairman of the Committee, Hon Onyebuchi Ogbadu representing Ivo Constituency commended the programme Cordinator for his activities at IFAD which has increased the productivity and income of operators along the value chains of rice and cassava adding that the oversight function was to know the Programmes of IFAD in this farming season.
While commending the performances of IFAD in the 8 Local Government Areas they cover in Ebonyi State’, Ogbadu requested the cordinator to increase it’s coverage to the remaining local governments of the state.
Other members of the Committee that spoke include Hon Arinze Lucas Chukwu representing Ishielu South Constituency, Hon Chief Abiri Godwin Abiri representing Izzi West Constituency, Hon Steve Orji Igwe from Edda East, and Hon Joseph Ununu representing Abakaliki South Constituency all commended IFAD for assisting Ebonyi farmers and urged them to work hard for the success of forthcoming evaluation programme of IFAD in the state.
In a vote of thanks, the knowledge management and communication consultant of IFAD_VCDP Abuja, Mr Obinna Chukwuezie lauded the Ebonyi State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture saying it was first of it’s kind to have such supports and rapport from legislative arm in Nigeria.