IFAD distributes inputs to wet-season rice, cassava farmers in Taraba

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has commenced the distribution of agricultural inputs to 120 wet-season rice and cassava farmers in Taraba State.

The State Governor, Darius Ishaku, while flagging off the event on Friday in Jalingo, lauded VCDP for its various result-oriented interventions in rice and cassava production, processing and marketing in the state.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Taraba Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Yusufu Gadi, Ishaku urged the beneficiaries to put the inputs to maximum use to turn around their fortunes and enhance food security.

Earlier in his welcome address, Mr Irimiya Musa, Taraba Programme  Coordinator, explained that the distribution was to support cassava and rice farmers in the three new VCDP in Bali, Donga and Jalingo local government areas.

“No fewer than 120 farmers were identified and validated by the national office in Abuja to benefit from the little outstanding balance of inputs earmarked for Taraba farmers in 2022,” he said.

He appealed to the national office to increase the number of inputs for the state in subsequent allocations given the state’s vast agricultural potential for rice and cassava production.

According to him, the programme, being funded by a tripartite arrangement of the federal government, IFAD and the participating states, is principally aimed at developing the value chain of rice and cassava for food security.

Musa noted that VCDP was working in Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu State, Kogi, Nassarawa State, Niger, Ogun and Taraba.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Taraba Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Yusufu Gadi, urged the benefitting farmers to use the inputs for the purpose intended.

He warned that government would not take it lightly with any farmer caught diverting or reselling the inputs.