International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) Monday stated that through private partnership with OLAM, it has contributed to raking in at least N13.527 billion to the Benue economy.
The State Programme Coordinator (SPC), Mr Emmanuel Igbaukum, stated this during a courtesy visit to the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Joseph Alakali, Monday in Makurdi.
Igbaukum said the money was generated through the purchase of 99,452 metric tonnes of rice paddy from IFAD-VCDP farmers by OLAM in the state.
Igbaukum said through IFAD-VCDP, cassava farmers also sold 87,237 metric tonnes thereby raking in N3,925 billion to the Nigerian Food Security and N14,662 billion to the state economy.
He stated that IFAD-VCDP had assisted farmers to increase average yield of rice from 1.2 metric tonnes per hectare to 4.5 metric tonnes per hectare, adding that cassava yield had increased from 8 to 10 metric tonnes per hectare to 25 to 30 metric tonnes per hectare.
Responding, the Benue, SSG Prof. Alakali expressed joy over the achievements of IFAD-VCDP in the state, adding that the state was very proud of IFAD-VCDP’s achievements.
