PRISCILLA DENNIS, MINNA
The International Fund for Agriculture Development assisted Value Chain Development Programme has been extended for three more years, according to the Niger State Coordination, Dr. Matthew.
The decision to extend the life span of the program is to address dry season farming and propel Niger state into rice processing of international standard.
Dr. Ahmed made the revelation at the Value Chain Development Programme Additional Financing State Sensitization and Mobilization visit at the Niger state Ministry of Agriculture in MInna.
According to him, the project supposed to round up in December 2019, but it has now been extended to December 2022 due to its performance and the number of farmers that have benefitted from the projects.
The coordinator further stated that three additional local government areas in Niger state, Edati, Mokwa and Borgu local government areas have been added to the existing five where VCDP is being implemented in the state.
He also explained that the programme, in the next three years, has a set target of over 30,000 farmers with special focus on women and youths adding that more local government areas are also expected to come on board.
” In the last four years, the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) had trained 22,000 farmers including 16,500 youths and 7,200 women. The “IFAD is more interested to work with women and youths in the state.”
Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Niger state Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Garba Musa Ibrahim applauded the efforts of IFAD-VCDP for extending the programme year and adding three other local governments to boost the state’s agricultural output.
Ibrahim then noted the need for increase in agricultural production adding, ” it is the only way that the economy can be boosted and poverty eradicated.”
