The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) has generated about N5 billion in agricultural intervention in Cross River State in six years.

The state coordinator of the programme, Innocent Ogbin, made the disclosure on Friday in Calabar during a media roundtable to intimate the public on the performance of the project.

The coordinator said the agribusiness-driven programme targeted youths, women, and vulnerable groups in boosting livelihoods through sustainable enterprise development in rural communities.

He noted that Cross River State began implementation of the second phase of the project in 2025 under additional financing after completing the first phase of the six-year programme.

Mr Ogbin explained that the initiative leveraged the state’s agrarian potential to tackle unemployment through structured agribusiness value chains.

He said that cassava, rice, fish, and poultry value chains formed the programme’s core, covering production, processing, and marketing.

He added that cassava production yielded about 6,900 metric tonnes, generating over N552 million for the beneficiaries while the rice production recorded 7,289 metric tonnes valued at N2.3 billion.

Mr Ogbin stated that the total output of poultry production was 658.68 metric tonnes, generating a gross income of N923 million and the fish production generated over N1.2 billion.

He said, “The programme created 4,370 jobs, including for women, persons with disabilities, and female-headed households; meanwhile an additional 3,626 jobs were projected under the ongoing additional financing phase.

‘’The project adopts an incubation model, pairing experienced agripreneurs with trainees, with 630 beneficiaries trained and awaiting enterprise take-off.”

Mr Ogbin noted that 2,996 agribusiness operators were identified under business development services to enhance financial literacy, planning, and market access.

He identified poor market access as a key rural challenge, noting that 27.7 kilometres of roads and culverts were built to ease produce transportation.

He said, “Over 1,100 hectares of farmland were developed, while 2,769 beneficiaries became active savers and over 2,500 accessed N28 million credit.”

Mr Ogbin added that 184 producer organisations, 178 enterprise groups, and 97 registered businesses were established, expressing optimism for improved food security and incomes. 

(NAN)