xHe disclosed that other value chain derivatives from the two crops would also be made known to small-holder farmers. “Basically, IFAD-VCDP is targeting smallholder farmers belonging to farming organisations/cooperatives (mostly women and youths), having fewer than five hectares of farmland for rice and cassava production. “In Enugu State, we have selected five pilot council areas, based on established criteria, mapped out by the designers of the IFAD-VCDP programme. x“The pilot council areas producing these two crops included Aninri, Isi uzo and Nkanu East (for rice production and value chain addition) and Enugu East and Udenu (for cassava production and value chain addition). The coordinator disclosed that since the organisation assumed operation in Enugu State in 2020, it had been able to engage a total of 104 small-holder farmers in the dry season between 2020/2021 farming period, especially in rice production.

Source: The Guardian July 15, 2021 03:11 UTC