The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has begun the distribution of input to 2, 971 wet season cassava farmers and the second phase of fertilizer to rice farmers in Taraba state.
Gov Darius Ishaku flagged off the distribution at a brief ceremony in Jalingo, the capital city.
Represented by Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Danjuma Bujujen, Ishaku commended IFAD -VCDP for changing the fortune of cassava and rice farmers in the state.
The governor warned the beneficiaries against the sell of input, saying that the support was to enable them to improve on their incomes and enhance food security in the state.
In his remark, Taraba State Programme Coordinator, Mr Irimiya Musa said the IFAD -VCDP was committed to enhancing the incomes and food security of rural rice and cassava farmers.
While commending Governor Ishaku for prompt payment of counterpart funds at all times, Musa announced that the programme had reduced the matching grant from 50 per cent to 30 per cent for women and youth while that of men has been reduced to 40 per cent respectively.
According to him, the reduction was due to the ravaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.
“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rice and cassava farmers, who are women and youth will now pay 30 per cent of the cost of input while men will pay 40 per cent instead of the usual 50 per cent and the programme will pay 70 and 60 per cent respectively,” said Irimiya Musa.
He also explained that the programme had since inception in 2015 supported a total of 14, 609 rice and cassava farmers across eight local government areas in the state.
Musa, however, named the local government councils as Ardo Kola, Bali, Donga, Gassol, Jalingo, Karim-Lamido, Takum and Wukari.
