100 Million US Dollars for Rice and cassava farmers in Nigeria

                                                            Obiano's wife and Okeke's wife
The Federal Government has mapped out about one hundred million US dollars to boost the cultivation of rice and cassava in the country reports odogwublog.com.

 The Chief Technical Adviser of the National Programme for Food Security, NPFS, Dr Oyesola Oyebanji stated this in Awka during a sensitization of key stakeholders in Cassava and Rice Value Chains Development Programme.
Dr Oyebanji pointed out that six selected states, each from the six geopolitical zones of the country would benefit from the fund.
The Chief Technical Adviser of NPFS, while explaining the concept and implementation of the programme said a holistic approach would be adopted for the development of rice and cassava with emphasis on production, processing and marketing.

Earlier in a keynote address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Nnamdi Mekoh emphasized the commitment of government in making agriculture attractive to women, youths and investors through the deployment of modern technology, mechanization and innovation.

Chief Mekoh who said government was working towards being the number one rice and cassava producing state in the country urged all stakeholders to play their role in the Value Chain Development Programme.


The State VCDP Coordinator, Mr Nnamdi Agwuncha noted that the primary target groups for the programme were small holder farmers cultivating cassava and rice in up to five hectares of land as well as traders and small scale processors with emphasis on women and youths.
Some of the participants, Mr Charles Nweke, Dr. Nnamdi Omuaru and Mr Jude Okadigbo described the programme as one that would ensure food security and wealth creation for the country.
Daily independent reports that farmers from the three participating Local Government Areas, Oyi, Anambra East and Ayemelum attended the event.