Governor Obiano
By Sunny A. David, Awka
Ten female IFAD, Value Chain Development Program, VCDP, farmers have been empowered with a camp gas, extruder, sealing machine and fifty kilogram bag of vitamin “A” cassava flour each, after their capacity building training at International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, IITA Ibadan.
The training was on the use of Vitamin A cassava root to produce different recipes, captioned; “Business Opportunity in Vitamin A Cassava for Improved Nutrition and Livelihood”.
Presenting the ‘Start Up Pack’ to the beneficiaries at the Agricultural Development Program office in Awka, the State Programme Coordinator of the Anambra VCDP, Mr. Nnamdi Agwuncha, disclosed that the state government is committed to ensuring advanced capacity building for state farmers.
Mr Agwuncha disclosed that the trainees will further be trained on the production of the cassava flour for the different recipes as well as collaborate with the Ministry of Education for the supply of the nutritious products to students and pupils to achieve the aims and objectives of the Schools feeding Programme of the Federal government.
He further said the Programme would train even more farmers in other aspects of Agric businesses to complement the state government’s efforts in job creation to eradicate poverty.
Mr. Agwuncha however enjoined the trainees to ensure they step down the knowledge in their respective communities.
In a vote of thanks, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Philomena Ekemezie commended the State Government and IFAD-VCDP for such wealth creation venture and the support given to them by providing them with some equipment to start up, assuring judicious use of the equipment.
The capacity building which had a total of thirty trainees, with ten each, selected from three out of the six VCDP States was sponsored by IFAD-VCDP and conducted by ‘Harvest-Plus’ at the International Institute For Tropical Agriculture IITA, Ibadan.
Highlight of the event was presentation of the empowerment equipment to the beneficiaries by the State Programme Coordinator of the Anambra VCDP, Mr. Agwuncha