IFAD commences input distribution to Taraba rice farmers
On Thursday, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) began the distribution of inputs to 129 rice farmers across seven LGAs of Taraba.
Governor Agbu Kefas, who launched the distribution at a ceremony in Jalingo, commended IFAD for boosting rice production, processing and marketing in the state over the years.
Mr Kefas said his administration prioritised agriculture, given its efforts towards ensuring food security.
He explained that Taraba was up-to-date with the payment of counterpart funding for VCDP and would continue to do so for the benefit of the people.
He advised benefiting farmers to use the inputs for the purpose intended, which he said was to boost rice production in the state.
“Let me, therefore, use this opportunity to appeal to benefitting farmers to use the inputs for the purpose intended. The government will not take it lightly with any farmer caught diverting or reselling the inputs,” he said.
Earlier, Irimiya Musa, the state programme coordinator of IFAD, explained that the VCDP intervention across nine states aimed to improve the living conditions of indigent persons in rural areas.
Mr Musa listed the nine states with the mandate to develop a value chain for rice and cassava as Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun, Taraba, Enugu, Nasarawa and Kogi.
Mr Musa also noted that the 129 beneficiaries in Taraba were drawn from Ardo-kola, Bali, Donga, Gassol, Jalingo, Karim Lamido, Takum and Wukari LGAs, the programme implementing areas.
“The benefitting farmers will be supported with inputs for one or two hectares, in consonance with their submitted and approved business plans.
“However, the benefitting farmers will pay 50 per cent of the total cost of the inputs, while the programme pays the balance of 50 per cent, under an arrangement known as the matching grant model,” he said.
Mr Musa lauded the Taraba government over its unwavering support to agriculture, particularly to the VCDP, where the enabling environment for the programme to thrive in the state had been created.
(NAN)
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