4,515 farmers to get N728m worth inputs in Anambra

No fewer than 4,515 rice and cassava farmers in Anambra State are to receive farm inputs worth N728 million under the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).

Anmabra State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mechanisation, Processing and Export, Mr. Afam Mbanefo, disclosed this while declaring open the exercise in Awka. He said the inputs disbursement exercise was for the 2017 wet season farming in five VCDP participating local government areas of the state, further assuring that government was determined to make agriculture a business and a major source of income for farmers.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Leo Imoka, Mbanefo disclosed that government was investing over N100m on the inputs, including seeds, to boost yam farming for export, and assured that the resources would be distributed to farmers soon.

He challenged the beneficiaries to reciprocate government’s effort in boosting agriculture by utilising the inputs judiciously. A farmer broadcasting fertiliser in his rice farm The state Programme He added that each cassava Coordinator (SPC), Value farmer would get four bags of Chain Development NPK, 50 bundles of cassava Programme (VCDP), Mr. stems, three litres of herbicide Emmanuel Aguncha, in his and two grants of artrazine per remarks, disclosed that the hectare. inputs distribution targeted “The benefitting farmers 296 farmer organisations on were selected from Awka 8,999 hectares of farmland. North, Anambra East,

He explained that the Anambra West, Orumba counterpart payment by IFAD North and Ayamelum local was N364m while the farmers government areas. paid a matching grant of “Our emphasis is more on N364m. youths and women. We are

Aguncha said each rice also going to provide on-thespot farmer would receive 50kg of training for them on how rice seeds, four bags of NPK, to use the inputs. two bags of Urea fertiliser and “The programme carried four litres of herbicide per out a workshop on integrity hectare. compliance and business ethics to make the farmers honest and to ensure that inputs were judiciously utilised

“We are also using the e-wallet and involving the supply chain managers; the International FertiliserDevelopment Centre (IFDC) and Cellulant; two development agencies managing the distribution of the inputs for this year,” he stressed.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Adaeze Ukwuego, while commending the state government and VCDP for the early distribution of the inputs, assured that the items wiould be utilised effectively.

consumption (these can be from both broilers and layers) are incubated and the chicks hatched and raised until they are at the right age to be sold to farms as layers or broilers.

Find market.

If the area you are in is popular for raising chickens a certain way (more conventional than free-range), you may wish to pursue a niche market that targets the consumer’s interest in free-range chickens rather than the conventionallyraised ones.

Make yourself known to potential customers and consumers. Advertise yourself by simply letting other people know you have eggs or meat you want to sell. Often selling by word-of-mouth is a lot cheaper and still the most popular means of advertising than paying for an advertisement in the local newspaper that may get read by only a few people.

Keep records and accounting of your operation.

This is so that you can always tell if you are making money or not.