FG ,IFAD-VCDP Delegation Visits Anambra State For Annual Mid-term Review Mission

Federal Government and International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Value Chain Development Programme, consultant Dr Francis Nwalene says good seeds and proper land preparation can produce six to ten tonnes in rice production in a year in Anambra.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Consultant, who stated this during the programmer’s midterm review that is ongoing in the state also described the learning abilities of Anambra farmers as commendable.

The Federal Government IFAD-VCDP delegation are in Anambra State for the annual mid-term review mission of the value chain development programme in order to assess the progress made by the Value Chain Development Programme up till date and identify the challenges faced, and to also weigh their opportunities.

Giving their assessment from the inspection of Azia in Ihiala Local Government Area, Isulo and Ogboji in Orumba South Local Government Area, Dr Nwaelene acknowledged that the state has the right Farmers to drive the agricultural revolution of the state but frowned at the attitude of farmers who depend on their harvest for replanting instead of going for new agronomical seed source for bountiful results.

He revealed that through the African rice variety, they have developed flood tolerance rice which the VCDP are ready to procure and train farmers on usage and addressing the issues of mechanization as part of efforts in reducing the challenges faced by farmers.

Some of the beneficiaries, Mr. Fidelis Ozor, a rice farmer, Engineer Chidi Okpala, a cassava farmer, Mrs. Chinaza Nwafor, a Point-of-Sale operator and Mrs. Philomena Ekemezie, a nutritionist, individually shared their growth in the various cooperatives and as well listed some of their challenges in farming and asked for more support for the expansion of their businesses.