By Tina George, Minna
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) West and Central Regional Director, Lisandro Martins has the Agency’s plan to extend the Value Chain Development Project (VCDP) programme in Nigeria.
Martins said the Phase two would have three additional states to give wider opportunities to rice and cassava farmers.
“Because of the success we have seen in Niger state, we are planing the extension of the VCDP Project and we will be scaling it up to three additional states.”
The programme is currently being implemented in six states which include Niger, Benue, Taraba, Ogun, Ebonyi and Anambra.
Martin who stated this during a visit to the Cassava Women Processing Center in Lokogoma in Wushishi local government area of Niger state described the achievements by the states under the project as impressive said that the extension of the project would also come with more opportunities for improvements.
He commended the Niger state government for embracing the project which has improved the economic value of the state.
Martins said he was impressed on how the youths and women in the communities welcome the projects and turn it into profit making business that would improve their lives.
The IFAD Country Director, Nadine Dominique Gbossa described Niger state as one of its successful states which has greatly improved the lives of the people and the state.
The Niger state Programme Coordinator, Dr. Mathew Ahmed disclosed that 700 youths have been engaged while over 150 women have been trained in modern garri processing.
He also said that 15,627 farmers in the state have benefitted from the programme out of which 11,948 rice farmers and 3,679 cassava processors
