IFAD Commends Enugu Govt For Implementation Of Value Chain Development Programme, Promises Programme Expansion 
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) , has commended Enugu state Government for its commitment to the successful implementation of the Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP, in the state, assuring expansion of farmlands and inclusion of more farmers in the programme .
Associate Vice President, Programme Management Department, IFAD, Dr Donal Brown gave the commendation Wednesday , March 13,2024, while speaking on his impression after his visit to the FGN/ IFAD Assisted VCDP Dry Season Rice farm,Nenwe,Aninri Local Government Area and other projects in the state.
Dr Brown who was on inspection of IFAD programmes in Nigeria but chose to visit Enugu, interacted with the farmers at the Chiamaka and Chinazaekpere Rice farms. He expressed satisfaction with what he saw and heard. He disclosed that the VCDP programme was expected to be sustained when they had gone. He noted that he never knew about dry season rice farming until his interaction with the women farmers whom he met planting rice at the Rice farm. Dr Brown said he will take that knowledge home.
Leaders of the women Rice farmers’ groups, Evelyn Nwalor of Chiamaka farm and Cecilia Michael of Chinazaekpere farm had told Dr Brown how VCDP had helped them increase their yields.
Women At Work
Evelyn Nwalor said, “What we get here is much. One group was doing it but when we saw it’s beneficial we joined . We eat from the produce, sell and store some. We train our children from the sales we made. We have been doing it for two years We get more yield in the dry season rice farming than we got in the raining season rice. In dry season farming, we control water ,we control fertilizer. VCDP taught us how to plant, using bond so that water can be retained”.
On how they sell their produce, Nwalor said ” Before we used to go to the market to sell. We measured our rice with bushel but when VCDP came, they brought off-takers. They taught us how to measure the rice with scales. It is more beneficial and less stressful. We make more money without the stress of processing the rice”.
On the challenges they faced, Nwalor said they had problem using fuel pumping machines because of high cost of fuel. When they complained, VCDP provided them with solar pumping machines. She commended Enugu state Government , IFAD, VCDP for the programme.
On her part, Cecilia Michael of Chinazaekpere farm said through the training they got from VCDP and it’s Gender Action Learning System ( GALS), they were empowered and were able to train women and improved in their farm production.
On the crops they farm, she said they farm rice, oil palm, okro, cassava ,vegetables, Soybeans, cashew, among others
She said from the money they made from the sales of their crops, some of them have piggery farms , provision stores and personal farms ,adding that they were also insured and when they had problems they went to the insurance company and they solved the problem for them. She appealed for more support from the IFAD/ VCDP.
Speaking , the National Coordinator of VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, commended Enugu state government and the farmers for their commitments to the success recorded in the programme. She said they decided to go for the dry season rice farming because it is more profitable.
On plans of expansion, Dr Aliyu gave the assurance that there will be an expansion in Enugu, noting that there will be more farmlands and more people will be brought in. “In the next farming season, we are going to reach more people. I am not going to let out the number for now,” she said.
In a brief remark, the State Coordinator of IFAD/VCDP, Enugu ,Dr Edward Isiwu, said VCDP were in Five local government areas in Enugu. They built rice processing centres, established Gender Action Learning System (GALS)and had trained a lot of women and youths on Nutrition and other programmes.
At the Angel farm ( Rice mill) the Associate Vice President Interacted with the women undergoing training at the IFAD/ VCDP Gender Action Learning System (GALS). They testified how VCDP training program has empowered them and transformed their husbands,to be helpful.
In his speech, the state Commissioner for Agriculture,Dr Patrick Ubru commended IFAD for its partnership with Enugu state Government. He thanked the Associate Vice President for coming down to the farm to see things for himself, saying,” it has an impact . For the top management of IFAD to come into the farm, it speaks volumes”.
He described IFAD as a big friend. “IFAD is a big friend to Enugu state. Enugu State Government will at all times provide the counterpart fund. We need to mechanise the farming , improve on our production”, he said
Earlier, the Associate Vice President ,Dr Donal Brown paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah ,at Government House, Enugu, where he told the Governor about his visit to Enugu,
Responding , Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, thanked IFAD for their support to the state, saying ,”We need agriculture if we must migrate from poverty.”
He assured that the state government will improve on what IFAD has done. “We must work towards improving what you have done. I want you to know that we are grateful of what IFAD has given us”, Mbah said.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
