The input distribution flagged-off by Governor Francis Nwifuru in Abakaliki on Tuesday, was aimed at strengthening food security and ensuring year-round farming in the state.
Nwifuru represented by his Wife, Mrs Mary--Maudlene Nwifuru commended the Federal Government and IFAD--VCDP for supporting farmers in the state with modern inputs to enhance crop production.
The governor said that the distribution represented a bold step towards food security, economic growth and sustainable rural development.
"Dry season farming has become veritable for food stability and improved income generation to farmers.
"Individuals not engaging in it do not know what they are missing.
"The state government will continue collaborating with relevant partners in providing modern equipment, improved seeds and essential support to farmers,"
He urged benefiting farmers to make judicious use of the inputs to enhance food production in the state.
The National Programme Coordinator (NPC) of IFAD--VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu commended the Ebonyi government for its unflinching support to the programme in actualising its goals of increasing food production in the state.
Aliyu noted that over 23,000 farmers and 664 processors have been actively involved in rice and cassava value-chain in the state.
"We are constructing small irrigation schemes in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ebonyi with one covering 50 hectares of land while the other covering 100 hectares.
"Farmers are cultivating rice over three periods of the year due to dry season farming which we pioneered and proud-of."
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku said the state government will continue partnering with IFAD--VCDP in enhancing the wellbeing of farmers in the state.
"Bold investments such as this have continued to open new opportunities for our farmers, strengthening food security and economic growth in the process," she said.
The State Programme Ccordinator of IFAD--VCDP, Mr Sunday Ituma said over 1,000 benefiting farmers across eight LGAs of the state would access inputs such as rice seeds, cassava cuttings, fertilizers, agro chemicals etc among others.
Mr James Eze, one of the beneficiaries, thanked IFAD--VCDP for the gesture and pledged to judiciously utilise the items.
