The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)/Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Benue state Friday distributed farm inputs to 150 rice farmers in eight local government areas of the state.
The eight LGAs are Agatu, Guma, Gwer, Gwer West, Kwande, Logo, Ogbadibo and Okpokwu.
The state programme coordinator (SPC), Mr. Emmanuel Igbaukum, disclosed this in Makurdi during the official flag-off of the input distribution to farmers for the 2022 cropping season.
Igbaukum said each of the rice farmers would get four bags of NPK, two bags of Urea, one bag of improved rice seeds and herbicides.
He encouraged them to plant the seeds immediately, stressing that the rice would mature in a very short time.
“This distribution marks the third time that we will be distributing inputs to farmers in 2022. We started the distribution in May with the first batch while the second batch was in June and the third batch of the distribution is in July which is today,” he said.
Also speaking, IFAD-VCDP’s national programme coordinator, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, encouraged the farmers to make judicious use of the inputs in order to scale up agricultural activities for their overall good.
Represented by the Senior Agriculture Officer, Mr. Nura Lawal-Daura, he disclosed that the inputs were of high quality, stating that they were distributed on time too for the benefit of farmers.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Kester Kyenge, told the farmers that with the support that they enjoyed through IFAD-VCDP, they should embark on massive cultivation of rice in their respective areas.
Kyenge, who was represented by the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Hembadoon Gom, urged them to justify the confidence that IFAD-VCDP had reposed in them.
Miss Ngunan Adi, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, appreciated IFAD-VCDP for finding them worthy of the support, and gave the assurance that they would make judicious use of the inputs to boost food security.
