By Ambrose Igboke
The Enugu State Government has keyed into the Agricultural Transformation Agenda, a critical policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government of Nigeria is aimed at attaining adequate food security in the country through pragmatic support to farmers across strategic value chains in Nigeria
by initiating the state version of agricultural transformation.
It’s part of Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS)
One of the agriculture policy drives of Enugu State Governor Ugwuanyi is evident in attracting the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS) of the World Bank to Enugu State. The project objective is to enhance the productivity of at least 10,000 farmers in Enugu State as direct beneficiaries.
Gov. Ugwuanyi, beyond attracting the APPEALS Project to Enugu State, being the only state in the South East, went further to match intention with action by promptly paying a counterpart fund of ₦244 million. This put the project in a steady footing to fully access the funding from the World Bank and properly implement its developmental objectives.
A critical aspect of the APPEALS Project is the Women and Youth Empowerment Programme (WYEP) which empowers 1700 women, youth and people with disability.
So far, through the support of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Project has disbursed the sum of ₦3.4 billion for the Women and Youth Empowerment Programme.
Out of 1700 beneficiaries, there are 85 persons with disabilities, who have been trained in the practicality, economics, business psychology and marketing dynamics in five value chains, namely; aquaculture, Cashew, cassava, poultry and rice.
Furthermore, each of the 1,700 beneficiaries has received grants to the average sum of ₦2, 000,000 to start up businesses in their chosen agricultural value chains. So far, through the support of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Project has disbursed the sum of ₦3.4 billion for the Women and Youth Empowerment Programme. This has made it possible for these 1, 700 beneficiaries to establish their own start up businesses in their chosen value chains and various segments of production, processing and marketing. The implication of this is that Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has added over 1,700 new farmers to Enugu State, mostly made up of the youth population. They have been fully funded with grants in form of inputs, climate smart technology support and building of infrastructure like poultry pens.
It is expected that these beneficiaries will be firmly established in their various businesses. The spiral effect on the economy of Enugu State will create a quantum leap in economic development, job creation and food security in every senatorial zone and each local government area of Enugu State.
