By Omotayo Edubi
The Federal Government /International Foods and Agricultural Development/Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP) says it has distributed inputs worth N135 million to 1,260 wet season rice and cassava farmers in Anambra.
Dr Foster Ihejiofor, the state Commissioner for Agriculture disclosed this while monitoring the distribution of the inputs to farmers at Umunze, Orumba South and Achalla, Awka North Local Government Areas respectively on Wednesday.
Ihejiofor said the inputs comprising bags of NPK and Urea fertilizers, cassava cuttings, rice seed and litres of selective and non-selective herbicides came from the partnership between the state and FGN/IFAD-VCDP.
“In line with the partnership, a benefitting farmer who must be a member of a cooperative society paid 50 per cent of the cost while the remaining 50 per cent was paid by the state government and FGN/IFAD-VCDP,” he said.
The commissioner said he was impressed with the commitment shown by the farmers, saying that government’s expectations was that beneficiaries should ensure production of more foods.
“You should ensure that the inputs you received are put into use by producing more foods to reduce the high cost of foods.
“Do not sell the inputs in the markets because anyone caught in such act would be sanctioned. The state government’s intention is to make Anambra a food basket of the country,” he said.
Mr Emmanuel Agwuncha, Programme Coordinator, FGN/IFAD-VCDP in Anambra, said the group was funding farmers who cultivated between one and five haectres of rice or cassava.
“Each cassava farmer is expected to get 200kg of NPK, two litres of selective and non-selective herbicides and 50 bundles of certified cassava cutting.
“For rice farmers, each person will get 200kg of NPK, 100kg of Urea fertilizers, two litres of selective and non-selective herbicides and 40kg of certified faro 44 rice seeds,” he said.
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