Obiano, Anambra State Governor
By Sunny A. David, Awka
The Anambra State Agricultural Value Chain Development Programme performance has been rated the best across the country.
The 6th FGN/IFAD Assisted Value Chain Development Programme Supervision Mission Team who are in the state to evaluate implementation process of the programme and how the farmers can perform better said farmers performed more than expected.
The Supervision Mission Team led by Professor Ben Okpukpara visited Omor Great Mind Rice Farm, Nnedinma Rice Processing Mill, Iyi Akwa Ifite Ogwuari, all in Ayamelum and Achalla Rice Processing Mill, Awka North Council Area.
The Team Leader, Professor Okpukpara said he was impressed with what is happening in Anambra value chain development programme attributing the progress to the passion Governor Willie Obiano has in making the state, food hub of the nation.
Professor Okpukpara, a Professor of Agriculture at University of Nigeria Nsukka explained that through the programme farmers had been empowered to process high quality rice which can compete with that of Thailand in the market.
He however said that lack of access roads have remained a major challenge faced by the farmers, noting that they find it difficult to evacuate their produce.
The State Programme Coordinator, Mr. Nnamdi Agwuncha recommended more effort in order to build the capacity of the farmers organizations adding that the private extension service providers should step-up
efforts in strengthening more small and medium scale processing centers.
A member of the team, Dr. Oyeshola Oyebanji who took time to find out how the farmers run the affairs of the corporative, asked them to Keep records of all their activities and insure their farms so as to sustain their investments at the end of IFAD programme
The leader of Great Mind Rice Farm, Mrs. Ngozi Ebue and Nnedinma Rice Processing Mill, Mr. Peter Ameke said since they enrolled into IFAD-assisted Value Chain Development Programme, they have been exposed to trainings on seedlings which has scaled up their production and knowledge on how to produce other variety from cassava apart from garri, thanking the state Programme Cordinator for his assistance which has made farming lucrative.
The Traditional Prime Minister of Ifite Ogwuari, Chief George Okoye promised that they will continue to protect the road constructed by IFAD which has eased their problems noting that tractors could now go into the farms even as he pleaded for more support to aid them in all season farming.
Farmers came out in their numbers and showcased some of their produce and presented some to their visitors.
