No fewer than 500 farmers in Anambra have benefited from the distribution of agricultural equipment by the state Ministry of Agriculture under the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP).

The equipment distributed included 49 tricycles, 84 power tillers, 80 solar-powered water pumps, 200 knapsack sprayers and fertiliser applicators, alongside 29 sets of cassava-processing equipment and 10 sets of rice-processing equipment.

Also distributed were cooking demonstration equipment for 50 women to promote improved food preparation and nutrition practices.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held in Awka on Monday, Dr Deborah Onyefulu, state Programme Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP, said the intervention was designed to promote the participation of women, youths and persons with disabilities in agriculture.

She said the initiative was aimed at increasing the income of rural farmers, creating employment opportunities, reducing poverty and contributing to the state’s internally generated revenue.

“The equipment support is part of the programme’s initiative to support women, youths and persons with disabilities.

“It is geared towards promoting inclusiveness in agricultural value chains and increasing the income of poor rural farmers on a sustainable basis,” she said.

Onyefulu warned beneficiaries against selling the equipment, disclosing that a monitoring team had been established to ensure they were used for their intended purposes.

Also speaking, Mr Anthony Muobike, member representing Aguata Constituency-II in the Anambra Assembly, urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment judiciously.

Muobike commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for supporting the programme and promoting sustainable agricultural development in the state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs Chinwe Achugbu, represented by Mrs Ify Onyenwe, commended VCDP for its interventions, which she said had helped improve the livelihoods of farmers.

She also expressed appreciation to the programme and the state government for creating an enabling environment for agricultural development.

Acting State Agricultural Production Officer for Value Chain, Mr Matthew Okafor, said beneficiaries were selected by liaison officers across the nine participating local government areas in the state.

According to him, the beneficiaries are required to contribute 30 per cent of the cost of the equipment, while the government provides the remaining 70 per cent.

Okafor urged the farmers to make proper use of the equipment, stressing that the items should be allocated to those who genuinely needed them.

“There is no need collecting equipment you do not need. Instead, we give them to those in need of them,” he said.

In her remarks, Mrs Mary Obiekwe, Acting Business and Market Development Officer of VCDP in Anambra, said 50 selected farmers would each receive a tricycle to facilitate the transportation of farm produce to markets.

She said the intervention would help address post-harvest losses caused by poor transportation and limited access to remote farming communities.

“Before now, these farmers experienced harvest losses due to a lack of mobility and access to remote hinterlands.

“With the distribution of these tricycles, there will be seamless transportation and increased productivity,” she said.

Obiekwe urged the beneficiaries to maintain the equipment properly to ensure durability and sustainability.

She also encouraged them to cultivate a savings culture to enable them to replace the tricycles when they depreciated.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Onyebuchi Okoli of the Destiny Farmers Cooperative in Isuaniocha, Awka North Local Government Area, said the tricycle would improve the transportation of her farm produce.

Okoli, who specialises in vegetable, cassava and fish farming, expressed appreciation to the programme for the equipment and capacity-building support.

“They taught us how farming can improve our livelihoods. If a farmer remains poor, it is because the farmer has decided to remain so,” she said.