Residents of Amede Autonomous Community in Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, have praised the International Fund for Agricultural Development–Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) for improving the livelihoods of rural farmers.
The commendation came during a civic reception held on Tuesday in honour of the Enugu State Programme Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Edward Isiwu.
Speaking at the event, a member of the organising committee, Victor Odoabuchi, said the reception was organised to appreciate the programme’s interventions in the community.
According to him, the initiative has brought significant development and improved the welfare of farmers in Amede.
“This gathering reflects our profound gratitude for the remarkable gesture and impactful intervention of the IFAD programme in our community,” he said.
He explained that the programme began operations in the community in 2021, with the support of Hillary Edeoga, through farmer mobilisation and registration of participants.
Odoabuchi highlighted several projects executed under the programme, including the construction of wells, the establishment of a functional rice mill, and the development of 50 hectares of farmland for cultivation.
He added that the programme also constructed two culverts and a mini-bridge linking farming communities, improving access to farmlands and neighbouring villages.
Farmers also received agro-inputs and equipment, including fertilisers, herbicides, improved seeds, tricycles, water pumping machines, cassava processing machines, threshers and winnowers.
In addition, the programme organised training for farmers on Good Agricultural Practices, business planning and nutrition-based cooking techniques.
A farmer in the community, Matthias Edeh, acknowledged the programme’s positive impact but appealed for the repair of the Onu-Uro culvert, which becomes difficult to use during the rainy season.
Another farmer, James Ibeh, called for the introduction of irrigation facilities to enable farmers to cultivate rice during the dry season.
Responding, Isiwu thanked the community for the honour, describing the reception as evidence that the programme’s interventions were making a difference in rural communities.
“I feel so elated by this community. Many communities appreciate what we do, but this one decided to organise a special reception,” he said.
Isiwu noted that IFAD-VCDP had constructed a rice mill, mini-bridges, a market and an aggregation centre, while also developing farmland in the area.
He added that the programme was considering the introduction of mini-irrigation schemes to support dry-season rice farming due to the availability of water bodies in the area.
According to him, some of the community’s requests have already been captured in the programme’s annual work plan and budget and will be implemented as approved.
Isiwu reaffirmed the programme’s commitment to improving farmers’ productivity and sustaining rural livelihoods across Nigeria.
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