Abakaliki, Nigeria – The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) have trained 24 youths from Ebonyi state on local fabrication of agricultural equipment.
The National Programme Coordinator (NPC) of IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, said during the unveiling of the equipment by the trainees, that the feat would strengthen rice and cassava value chains in Ebonyi.
Aliyu, represented by her Special Assistant, Goni Bukar, expressed happiness that adaptation of the equipment locally, would meet the specific needs of farmers.
“I know the trainees would appreciate what IFAD-VCDP has done for them which cannot be quantified monetarily.
“This is more germane by the pedigree of the trainer contracted by IFAD as he does not only possess the intellect but is ingenious.
“You can be the alliance the trainer needs by fabricating and supplying equipment to him thereby creating the desired market.”
The NPC urged the trainees to deploy their knowledge in solving the agricultural needs of their immediate environment.
“You were chosen three par Local Government Area (LGA) as this should elicit competition and collaboration among you.
“Get simple ideas from your immediate environment and design equipment that would solve prevailing needs,” she advised.
She thanked the state governor for promptly offsetting the backlog of its counterpart funds including the present ones.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Nkechinyere Iyioku, commended IFAD-VCDP for the feat and disclosed that more youths in the state would be trained in agricultural equipment fabrication.
Iyioku, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Fidelis Nwankwo, said the state government would collaborate with relevant stakeholders in providing market for the trainees’ products.
“Ebonyi government will continue collaborating with IFAD-VCDP due to the practical solutions it proffers to the state’s agricultural challenges.”
The State Programme Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Mr Sunday Ituma, disclosed that the trainees were selected from the eight participating LGAs of the state.
“The fabricated equipment on display include: rice threshers with paddy winnowers, optimised self-loading and discharging cassava graters, cassava sieves, steam boilers, paddy drivers among others,” he said.
Mr Obinna Okorie, one of the trainees, thanked IFAD-VCDP for the training and pledged to use the garnered knowledge to support agricultural.development in the state.
The training Instructor, Mr Ikenna Ituma, gave an overview of the fabrication procedures while relevant stakeholders offered goodwill messages at the occasion.
