The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has concluded plans to invest $3.5 million in mitigating the impact of climate change in Niger and Kogi States.
National Programme Coordinator of FG/IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu stated this on Wednesday at the inauguration of the 2023 wet season inputs distribution to VCDP farmers in Minna.
News Rider reports that VCDP is a Federal Government project funded by IFAD and domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
It is targeted at improving the income and food security of poor rural households engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava on a sustainable basis.
Aliyu stated that IFAD-VCDP approved the $3.5 million grant to enable Adaptation for Smallholders Agricultural Programme (ASAP) farmers enhance their resilience to climate shocks.
She explained that IFAD-VCDP would not give cash to farmers or groups, but would build their capacities and provide infrastructure to mitigate the effects of flooding.
The national coordinator stated that the programme would soon be implemented in Niger and Kogi under the IFAD-VCDP Additional Financing (AF), adding that VCDP would support 355 rice and cassava farmers with inputs and implements this year.
The inputs include improved rice seedlings, herbicides, cassava stems, NPK and Urea fertilisers, while the implements are water pumping machines, intra-planters and power tillers.
Aliyu informed that IFAD-VCDP spent over ₦80 million to procure the inputs and implements, saying that the farmers are expected to contribute 50 per cent of the cost of the inputs and implements through matching grant arrangement, while the project would pay the balance of 50 per cent.
She encouraged the beneficiaries to utilise the inputs and implements to enhance their productivity, which would increase their income alongside improved living standards.
The coordinator said that VCDP would be supporting over 32,000 farmers in the state in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava.
Aliyu requested the payment of the state counterpart fund, noting that part of the grant would be used to pay staff salaries and other allowances.
The state governor, Alhaji Umaru Bago promised that the government would pay its counterpart fund soonest to enable farmers benefit more from the programme.
Bago, who was represented by the state deputy governor, Alhaji Yakubu Garba, assured that the state is committed to utilising the abundant arable land and water bodies for the production of rice, cassava, sugarcane, yam, maize, aquaculture and livestock.
He was optimistic that the project would guarantee food security and employment for the people, stating that its partnership with IFAD- VCDP improved the economy of the state.
The governor expressed his readiness to expand the partnership with FG/IFAD VCDP by supporting rural smallholder farmers annually with agro-inputs, agro-processing equipment and simple farm implements across the Local Government Areas in the state.
He boasted that Niger state is rated as first by the IFAD +AF, hoping that the next AF phase would centre on addressing issues on environment and climate change, nutrition, financial inclusion, gender and youth inclusion.
Bago informed that the programme would impact on the production and marketing of farm produce in the state.
The State Programme Coordinator, Dr Mathew Ahmed, said that each farmer would get four bags of NPK fertilisers, two bags of urea fertilisers and two litres of herbicides; one selective and one non-elective.
Ahmed hinted that each rice farmers would obtain 25kg of rice seeds each, while the cassava farmers would receive 50 bundles of cassava stems each.
He added that farm implements such as transplanters, power tillers and water pumping machines would be utilised by the youths to reduce drudgery in the field.
A beneficiary of the POS machine, Hajiya Fatima Adamu promised that the business would uplift her living standard and that of her household.
Adamu appreciated the government and IFAD-VCDP for the gesture.
The state deputy governor also distributed motorcycles to extension agents.
VCDP is expected to address issues bordering on financial inclusion, environment and climate change, nutrition, gender and youth inclusion.
It is implemented in the nine states of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ogun and Taraba.
The project also captured eight Local Government Areas of Bida, Borogu, Edati, Katcha, Kontagora, Mokwa, Shiroro and Wushishi in Niger State.
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