The wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has officially handed over projects and starter packs to youth fabricators through the FG/IFAD/VCDP initiative. During the handover ceremony in Awka, Mrs. Soludo urged beneficiaries to fully utilize the provided equipment to improve their livelihoods and avoid selling them.
At the event, over twelve youths who had completed training through the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) were equipped with various agricultural tools. The VCDP project aims to boost incomes and food security for rural households involved in rice and cassava production, while also focusing on youth and gender inclusion, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience.
Mrs. Soludo highlighted the administration’s commitment to supporting VCDP, noting that the program has significantly contributed to the welfare of vulnerable groups. She announced plans to partner with VCDP for the training of 20 additional youths next year.
Dr. Foster Ihejiofor, Anambra’s Commissioner for Agriculture, emphasized the program’s alignment with the state’s mission to advance mechanization, increase productivity, and uplift smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. He encouraged beneficiaries to take pride in their achievements and use the support as a foundation for further success.
Dr. Fatima Aliyu, the National Programme Coordinator for VCDP, represented by Human Resource Adviser Mr. Bello Gidado, expressed satisfaction with the distribution of starter packs and tricycles to trained youths and local farmers. She noted that additional agro-processing equipment would soon be distributed to women’s groups to enhance their productivity.
Dr. Debby Onyefulu, Acting State Programme Coordinator of the Anambra State VCDP, stated that the empowerment initiative was made possible by the collaboration between the state government, the Federal Government, and IFAD. Since its inception in 2015, the program has transformed rice and cassava farming across Anambra State, fostering innovation and self-reliance in agriculture.
The empowered youths received training in the fabrication and maintenance of agricultural tools and were provided with essential equipment, such as threshers, power tillers, and rice and cassava processing machines, to enhance their productivity and support their agricultural endeavors.
