Rice, wheat farmers benefit from FADAMA projects in Anambra

A total of 5,253 rice and wheat farmers in Anambra benefited from the various intervention schemes of the FADAMA III project in 2017.

Project Coordinator of FADAMA in Anambra, Mr Chucks Egbueh, stated this in Awka adding that 4,000 of the farmers were into rice production while 1253 others were into cassava production.

“FADAMA III Additional Financing project in Anambra was largely successful in 2017. During the year, we were able to empower about 5, 253 rural farmers in Anambra, we gave them training and expertise,” he said.

Egbueh, listed areas where the farmers were empowered to include book keeping, training on land preparation, distribution of inputs like certified seedlings, cuttings, fertilisers and farming kits.

“We also gave them inputs like certified seeds, fertilisers and chemicals at 50 per cent subsidy. We also gave them farming safety kits like rain boots, gloves, kits, glove and other related items at 80 per cent subsidy,” he said.

He revealed that a total of 239 youths trained under its Graduate Unemployed Youths Scheme would start their own businesses in February, adding that the programme had commenced the construction of 11 farm roads covering 45 kilometres and five major irrigation projects in the state.

Noting that the irrigation projects had reached 60 per cent completion stage, he gave an assurance that both the irrigation and road projects would be completed by end of February.

He said that empowerment packages of FADAMA had incentivised the farmers to move from traditional farming methods to modern methods.