The Ebonyi government has commended the International Fund for Agricultural Development-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for adding value to the wellbeing of farmers in the state.

Chief Moses Nome, State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources made the commendation in Abakaliki during an IFAD-VCDP pre-season training for field workers and lead farmers drawn from the benefiting Local Government Areas of the state.

Nome said that with such training, IFAD-VCDP has made farmers in the state approach farming as business thereby generally enhancing their livelihood.

"Regular training of farmers enables them to adequately apply improved technologies on the farm to to increase crop yield.

"In this era of general economic downturn, such trainings and their practicability should be sustained to make farming, a veritable means of livelihood.

He described IFAD-VCDP as the engine of agricultural development in the state as it supplements the government's untiring efforts to enhance the sector.

"IFAD-VCDP constructs rural farm roads,markets, distributes input and agro-chemicals among interventions.

Alhaj Bala Garba, National Programme Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP said that the exercise was among the three training programmes conducted for farmers in every farming season.

Garba represented by Dr Chika Unamma, IFAD-VCDP Agricultural Producition Advisor, said the trainings include the pre-season, in-season and post harvest trainings.

"The pre-season training is the most important because it precedes other trainings and is the foundation for the success of the farming season.

"The training signals the commencement of the farming season, as we review performances of the preceding season and how to apply the new technologies on the farms among other activities.

"We however commend the Ebonyi Governor for his relentless support to IFAD-VCDP and the state commissioner for agriculture for his commitment towards attaining our set goals.

Mr Sunday Ituma, State Programme Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, said that the field officers and lead farmers would step-down contents of training to benefiting farmers across the participating councils.

"We would redouble efforts in discharging our obligations towards benefiting farmers in developinge agriculture in the state.

Mr Darlington Onele, the IFAD-VCDP Agricultural Production Officer in state, said that the participants have been adequately motivated for effective participation.

Mrs Nkiru Eze, one of the participants, thanked IFAD-VCDP for the training and pledged to effectively utilise the knowledge ganered from it.

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