From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
No fewer than 15 VCDP women farmers from Magajiya /Ijiho cluster have demonstrated character, commitment and prudent management of the inputs given to them by VCDP which had resulted in massive purchase of cows numbering eleven (11) sheep and goats nine (9) leading to other streams of income through VCDP.
This was made manifest when some women groups in the area came out in their numbers to hail women inclusive in the International Fund for Agricultural Development and Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP) narrating successes recorded by their respective groups.
It would be recalled that (IFAD-VCDP) has over the years prioritise women and youths in the implementation of its programmes and policies.
Speaking during the interaction visits to their respective neighborhoods, one of the beneficiaries of VCDP programmes, Madam Aisha Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of others, stated that they were given full complement of inputs such as fertilizer, certified rice seeds, chemical and pumping machine.
She noted that from that season, they followed all the agronomic best practices taught them by VCDP.
She further stated that their harvest were bountiful and the money from the sale of the rice was used to start construction of a three-bedroom bungalow to a lintel level and the remaining money was used to buy a cow for a less privileged Mallam Abuh Usman to train.
All the beneficiaries that spoke to KMC team also confirmed that they all have savings, as well as planting another rice seeds to ensure sustainability on continous basis even when the programme exit.