The International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Value Chain Development Programme, on Friday, distributed agro-inputs to 120 Taraba State wet season rice and cassava farmers.
Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku, who flagged off the distribution in Jalingo, lauded IFAD-VCDP for its various result-oriented interventions in rice and cassava production, processing and marketing in the state.
Ishaku, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Yusufu Gadi, urged the beneficiaries to put the inputs to maximum use to turn around their fortunes and enhance food security.
Earlier, Mr Irimiya Musa, the State Programme Coordinator, explained the distribution was to support cassava and rice farmers in the three new VCDP intervening Local Government Councils of Bali, Donga and Jalingo.
“A total of 120 farmers were identified and validated by the National Office, 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.
According to him, the programme, which was being funded by a tripartite arrangement of the Federal Government, the IFAD and the participating states, was principally aimed at developing the value chain of rice and cassava for enhanced food security.
Musa noted that the VCDP was working in nine states of the federation including Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Enugu, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun and Taraba.
On his part, the permanent secretary, Gani, who spoke through the Director Agric Services, Mr Sale Pavali, 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.
