NAN-AE-11
Partnership
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Ezillo (Ebonyi), Feb. 27, 2017 (NAN) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) says it is partnering with the Ebonyi State Government to construct an irrigation facility for the state-owned farms in Ezillo, Ishiellu Local Government Area.
Mr Sunday Ituma, the IFAD Project Coordinator in Ebonyi, said this at a news conference in Ezillo on Monday.
He said that the organisation had identified the required source of water for the project, while the design for the initial irrigation of 200 hectares of farmland had been completed.
“The procurement process is on-going at the IFAD Country Office and immediately it is completed, we would put the 200-hectare irrigation scheme in place.
“The designated 200 hectares of farmland is, however, insufficient; we hope the state government will seek further partnership to expand the scheme for dry and wet season farming,” he said.
Besides, Ituma said that IFAD had been assisting farmers’ cooperative societies in their efforts to cultivate rice in the area.
“This is complemented by our support to farmers in the state through the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), particularly aimed at boosting rice and cassava cultivation,” he said. (NAN)
RCO/JPE/OOK
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Edited by Joseph Edeh and Dayo Komolafe