MR Patrick Ubru, Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation, said the state is targeting the production of one million metric tons of rice annually to meet local demands and ensure food security.

Ubru said this  on Friday in Enugu when Dr Donald Brown, Associate Vice President of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Rome visited some Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) sites in the state.

He said in order to meet the target, the ministry has aggressively been supporting smallholder farmers, and also making efforts to engage large scale farmers to increase production through mechanisation.

“As a state we have seen the benefits of adoption of dry season farming, how it increases the yield so we will continue to invest on it.

Ubru said the government was ready to provide the needed counterpart funding for VCDP in the state and support implementation of IFAD programmes.

The commissioner, who identified mechanisation as key to enhance agricultural productivity, said the state was adopting the measure to meet its annual target of rice production.

He thanked the officials of IFAD led by the Brown for coming to the farms to get first-hand experience of what the farmers are doing.

The commissioner promised that IFAD funding for the state would   judiciously utilised and the desired impact is achieved.

“We pray that this relationship will continue and our smallholder’s farmers` income will increase and their families will be happy, “he said.

Mrs Nnenna Ejim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Angel Farms, said intervention of IFAD-VCDP has enhanced her production capacity.

Ejim, a rice processor, said initially her production was between four to six bags daily but at the moment, the factory upgraded to 24 bags daily through the provision of four additional machines by IFAD.

“Initially we have only four rice milling machines which is an impediment for us meeting with demands, and enhance income but IFAD gave us additional four which helped in boosting our production.

“The organisation also links us with the market where we can sell our product because one thing is to produce but it is meaningless producing without making sales.

“In spite of the rate of production, demand often time outweigh our supply because the project provided us access to market, “she said. (NAN)

Published Date: March 15, 2024