The Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)’s Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) on Tuesday commenced distribution of 2025/2026 inputs to 260 dry season rice farmers in Taraba.
Prof. Nicholas Namessan, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, who flagged off the programme, said the Taraba Government was committed to supporting VCDP for enhanced food production, processing and marketing.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Sarah Ali, Namessan commended the Federation Government and IFAD for the programme, saying VCDP has done so much over the years to improve the living standard of rural farmers in the state.
Dr Fatima Aliyu, VCDP’s National Programme Coordinator (NPC), said the inputs distribution was part of the programme’s continuous efforts at strengthening the production base and enhancing the livelihoods of the rural farmers.
“I stand before you on this important occasion of the 2025/2026 dry season input distribution to rice farmers across six Local Government Areas, including Ardo-Kola, Bali, Donga, Gassol, Karim-Lamido and Wukari.
“This initiative is our continuous effort at strengthening the production base and enhancing the livelihoods of our farmers, who are the backbone of our rural economy. This is our contribution to national development and food security,” she said.
Represented by Alhaji Shehu Ibrahim, Aliyu thanked the Federal Government, IFAD-VCDP and the Taraba Government for their tireless efforts and invaluable support.
She appealed to the 260 beneficiaries to, as usual, make the best use of the support to turn around their fortunes and make the state and the nation proud.
“Under the VCDP matching grant scheme, each of the beneficiaries for today’s support will receive 4 bags of NPK fertiliser, 2 bags of urea, 50 kg of rice seed and 2 litres of herbicide, both pre and post-emergence.
“The total value of this package is N333,500 per farmer, and the farmers have made a down payment of 50 per cent as their matching grant, which amounts to N166,750,” she explained.
Earlier, Mr Irimiya Musa, the VCDP State Programme Coordinator (SPC), commended Gov. Agbu Kefas for his commitment to the success of the programme through prompt payment of counterpart funding at all times.
Musa also commended the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Prof. Namessan, and other stakeholders for their continued support for the programme.
