The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has flagged off the distribution of farm inputs for 2025 wet season cassava farmers in Taraba.
Nicholas Namessan, the Taraba commissioner for agriculture and food security, who declared the event open in Jalingo, urged the farmers to make judicious use of the inputs to enhance productivity.
Mr Namesaan, who was represented by Salah Ali, permanent secretary of the ministry, warned the farmers against selling the inputs, stressing that the government would not take it lightly with any culprit.
“I urge you all to ensure that you make judicious use of the inputs given to you so as to enhance productivity and improve your standard of living and enhance food security for the country,” he said.
Earlier, Irimiya Musa, the VCDP state programme coordinator (SPC), said the programme was strategically designed to enhance agricultural productivity, promote value addition and improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
Represented by Bedu Wiza, Mr Musa said the inputs distributed, including improved seeds, fertilisers and other critical agro-inputs, were crucial for boosting cassava production for enhanced food security.
The SPC assured the farmers that the right application of the items would enable them to achieve greater heights in agricultural development and rural prosperity.
He commended Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba for always ensuring prompt payment of counterpart funding for the programme for the benefit of the rural farmers.
Mr Musa also lauded Mr Namessan and all other stakeholders for their unalloyed support to the programme.
He noted that VCDP, which was intervening due to the partnership between IFAD, the federal government and the Taraba government, was the best thing that has happened to the rural communities in recent years.
VCDP is intervening to improve rice and cassava production, processing and marketing in Gassol, Karim-Lamido, Wukari, Ardo-Kola, Takum, Donga, Jalingo and Bali local government councils of Taraba.
(NAN)
