It is important for Nigeria to adequately make the most of the dry season farming programme which the nation has heavily invested in.
Considering the food shortage challenge facing the nation, the production of rice, wheat, and other food products must be upscaled.
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This may be the reason farmers are getting exceptional treatment from government and international organsations.
Dry Season Farming
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has collaborated with the federal government to distribute over ₦40 million agricultural inputs to Enugu farmers.
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This was done to mark the commencement of the 2023/2024 dry season farming under the IFAD-Value Chain Development Programme programme.
The distributed items include NPK fertilisers, Urea, rice seeds, selective and non-selective chemicals, solar panels, water pumps, knapsack sprayers, transplanters, and weighing scales, among others.
IFAD-VCDP National Coordinator, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, praised the Enugu State Government for its active participation in the programme.
IFAD’s Thanked Enugu Govt For Supporting Farmers
She hailed the contribution of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Niger, Ogun, and Taraba states before the inclusion of Enugu, Kogi, and Nasarawa states.
Aliyu expressed gratitude for the effective implementation in Enugu and encouraged the state to maintain the momentum.
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She said: “The conventional and the additional dry season farming are to support farmers especially those that had the devastating experience of the 2023 flood.
“The idea also is to intensify dry season farming”.
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The State Programme Coordinator, Dr. Edward Isiwu, commended Governor Peter Mbah for his support in ensuring the success of the programme through the payment of the counterpart fund.
The distributed agro inputs targeted rice production for farmers in Aninri, Isiuzo, and Nkanu East among the five Local Government Areas involved.
Hon. Patrick Ubru, who represented Governor Mbah, reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to making Enugu the nation’s food basket.
He thanked IFAD for the swift approvals and urged farmers to live up to expectations.
A beneficiary, Mrs. Ngozi Eze, expressed gratitude for the programme’s consistent support, citing a significant yield increase in her previous dry season farming.
She lauded IFAD for reducing rural poverty and enhancing food security through their continuous support to farmers.
