No fewer than 8,520 persons have benefitted from the World Bank-assisted Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project in Enugu.

Deputy Governor Cecilia Ezeilo disclosed this during a two-day World Bank ninth implementation support mission held in Enugu on Tuesday.

According to her, the project has empowered small and medium enterprises totalling 3,478, the Women and Youths Empowerment Programme (WYEP) and 1,700 farmers.

Ms Ezeilo explained that the APPEALs project impacted the agricultural sector in Enugu.

“Many farmers in the state have also benefited through capacity training, technology demonstration, and construction of aggregation and processing centres,” she stated.

The deputy governor said the support by the APPEALS project had impacted farmers in enhancing their productivity across the three priority value chains of rice, cashew and poultry.

Ms Ezeilo added that 15 aggregation/cottage processing centres were currently constructed across various locations in the state.

“I wish to assure the World Bank task team leader for APPEALS, Manievel Sene, that we are doing everything possible to ensure the construction of 13.3km access roads. We are working to fast-track the implementation of energy and more,” explained the Enugu deputy governor.

APPEALS national coordinator Mohammed Jobdi said the plenary was aimed at interacting and reviewing completed projects and explained that the gathering would offer an opportunity to interact with experts on achievements and address issues facing the project in Enugu.

(NAN)