The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), assiter by Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), has continued with the inauguration of agricultural enhancement projects in communities in Delta.

The initiative, which is a tripartite programme of the federal government of Nigeria (FGN), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is aimed at ensuring food security through empowerment of women and youths in the rural communities in the Niger Delta region.

LIFE-ND, on Wednesday, inaugurated a multi-million naira state-of-the-art poultry facility consisting five compartments of 250 birds capacity each, an office, store, toilet and an eight cubic meter solar powered borehole at Ekuma- Abavo, Ika South LGA of Delta state.

Also inaugurated is a cassava processing facility with machinery such as fryer, grater, sieving machine, manual and hydraulic press and washing  machine with two  office and store rooms, 25KVA generator, borehole and toilet at Ndemili, Ndokwa West LGA of the state.

While inaugurating the facilities on Wednesday, the minister of agriculture and food security, Abubakar Kyari, represented by state director, federal ministry of agriculture, John Onovroke, charged the communities to take ownership of the projects.

He urged the benefiting communities not to allow the initiative and the projects to die but explore the opportunities they  provided to ensure results and grow the economy of their communities in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

He said that the projects would enable the rural communities to engage in meaningful development through agriculture which would ensure food security, jobs and wealth creation for the people.

According to Mr Kyari, the cassava value chain provides a veritable opportunity for women and youths to earn foreign exchange through dedicated and committed efforts.

“Also, as an agrarian community, Ekuma and Ndemili owe it a duty to maintain, sustain and multiply these facilities, train and empower the entire people of the community.”

On his part, the national project coordinator, LIFE-ND, Abiodun Sanni, represented by Anthony Moluno, rural infrastructure coordinator, charged the communities to put the facilities into effective use and not abandon the infrastructure.

He thanked the community for their peaceful disposition and for donating the land that enabled the projects to succeed, adding that sustained peace would attract more projects to the communities.

He also thanked the state government for its support and the partners for sustaining the programmes and making funds available for the project’s execution in the various communities.

Also, in her remarks, Stella Manure, representative of the NDDC, assured that the commission would sustain its support to the project in its bid to develop and eradicate poverty and ensure food security in the region.

Earlier in his address the state project coordinator, LIFE-ND, Collins Ashoro, said that the benefiting communities were fortunate to be among the 10 selected communities in the project implementing 10 LGAs in the state.

According to Mr Ashoro, 4,373 individuals have benefited from the LIFE-ND project with over 40 infrastructural projects executed across  Delta state.

“This initiative aligns with Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E. Agenda and President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, both committed to improving the quality of life for families through agriculture and economic empowerment.

“The project objective is to enhance income, food security, and job creation for rural youth and women through enterprise development on sustainable basis using the incubation model.”

He said that the projects “Cassava and poultry facilities” provided a platform to reduce post harvest losses, enhance quality of products, improve livelihoods of farmers and increase access to better techniques which would give rise to higher yield and improved marketability of their products.

“The facilities will serve as a training hub for incubates and by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge, we are nurturing a new generation of agripreneurs who will drive innovation and growth in the agricultural sector.

” These facilities are not just infrastructure projects but a symbol of hope, resilience, and progress. They represent our shared vision for a brighter future, where sustainable development and economic empowerment are within reach for all,” Mr Ashoro said.

Responding on behalf of the communities, Ika South Council chairman, Jerry Ehiwarior, represented by the LGA secretary, Kainji Aluge-Obia and the president general of Ndemili, Austine Okonye, represented by Austine Ndego, lauded the projects. 

They assured that the projects would be utilised, sustained and maintained for the benefits of the communities.

(NAN)