Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making agriculture a top priority in tackling food insecurity in the state and Nigeria at large.
This commitment was made during the Federal Government’s collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development-Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD/VCDP) to distribute farm inputs to farmers.
The event, held at the IFAD/VCDP office in Abakaliki, saw the distribution of various equipment, including rice planters and harvesters, de-stoning machines, water pumps, rice milling machines, and cassava processing machines.
Other items distributed included motorcycles, tricycles, threshers, stitching machines, and planters.
Nwifuru, represented by his wife, Chief Mrs. Mary-Maudaline Nwifuru, commended IFAD/VCDP for the gesture.
“These inputs are crucial in encouraging mechanized farming among farmers in the state and boosting food production. I urge all the beneficiaries to make good use of the equipment and support both the federal and state government in ensuring zero hunger for the citizens,” the governor said.
The National Programme Coordinator, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, explained that the program focused on rural poor farmers, with a total of 2,600 farmers benefiting from the inputs.
According to her, the farmers included 1,000 farmers for dry season inputs, 1,000 for equipment, and 600 for wet season inputs.