Abakaliki, Nigeria – The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has proposed a budget of N5.17billion for its activities in Ebonyi in 2026.
The IFAD–VCDP State Programme Coordinator, Mr Sunday Ituma, made the disclosure in Abakaliki on Monday during the state steering committee meeting for its Annual Work Plan/Budget (AWPB) outlay.
Ituma said the budget, presented by the State Programme Management Unit (SPMU), targets improved agricultural productivity, youth empowerment and value addition in rice and cassava production.
“The budget will be funded through a multi-stakeholder contribution to ensure positive impact on farmers across the participating eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
“IFAD will provide ₦4.122 billion, the Ebonyi government will contribute ₦176.64 million while beneficiaries will support the implementation with ₦876.73 million.
“A key component of the AWP/B is the provision of small-scale rice processing equipment (haulers, destoners, weighing scales, and bag-stitching machines), worth ₦150 million for farmers organisations.”
The SPC noted that other major interventions include two rice colour sorters, valued at ₦60 million.
“There is also equipment for youth enterprises involved in vitamin A cassava processing – such as ovens, gas cylinders, extractors, and scales -estimated at ₦22.5 million.
“We are happy with the steering committee’s approval of the budget as the next phase involves forwarding it to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Federal Ministry of Finance for concurrent endorsement.
“This will be followed by the final submission to IFAD headquarters for final clearance.and hopefully by the end of 2025 or early 2026, activities would commence across participating LGAs.”
He noted that IFAD-VCDP has empowered thousands of farmers across Ebonyi since its inception in 2015, injecting over ₦17 billion into the state’s economy in the process.
The Chairman of the VCDP steering committee and Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs. Nkechiyere Iyioku, lauded the implementation team for its dedication, urging it to sustain the momentum.
Iyioku reminded the team that the reward for good work is more work as it should sustain the tempo till every part of Ebonyi enjoys the benefits of the project.
“We urge IFAD–VCDP to spread its activities to all the LGAs of Ebonyi because we are impressed with its life-uplifting activities.”
The Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee and Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Prof. Leonard Uguru, commended IFAD–VCDP for maintaining strong performance metrics.
“The performance metrics exceed 90 percent in recent evaluations as we have enjoined other World Bank teams in the state to learn from IFAD–VCDP.”
