As the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) funded Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), enters another stage, about 4, 225 Agri-Commodities hubs are expected to spring up soon.
   
The initiative is a multi-million-naira project, funded by IFAD, in collaboration with the Federal Government and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), to address restiveness in the Niger Delta states by engaging the youths in agricultural activities to enhance food security.
 
The emergence of the agric-commodities hubs, was as a result of the successful implementation and execution of the LIFE-ND project that has assisted in enhancing incomes, food security, job creation for young rural people and women, and provision of rural infrastructure in the state.
   
A total of 38,750 beneficiaries were targeted in the nine states for the six years tenure of the project, from which the 4,225 emerged in the state. In Abia State, a total of 1,625 beneficiaries have been trained and empowered with inputs to commence business in one of the four agro-commodities/agri-business enterprises – Oil Palm, Poultry, Cassava and Rice production, while another 1,000 were recently selected to add to the number. 
 
The new beneficiaries, comprising youths between age 18 and 35 years and women-headed households, who were selected from about 100 communities, underwent two-day training/ working on business plan development, record keeping, nutrition and climate change mainstreaming activities amongst others. 
 
According to the state LIFE-ND Project Coordinator, Dr. Uchenna Onyeizu, the essence of the training was to acquaint the trainees, tagged: ‘Incubatees’ with the project operations and how to fully benefit, adding that after their successful certification, they will be empowered with the inputs to commence their chosen agri-businesses.
   
Dr. Onyeizu who attributed the success of the programme in the state to the sustained support of IFAD, the Federal Government and other stakeholders, including the state government with the payment of counterpart fund of about N50m yearly, to provide the enabling operating environment and selection of the beneficiaries.
 
He added that IFAD also undertakes Mid Term Reviews (MTR), during which its officials visited the state projects sites, interact with the beneficiaries and assess what are on ground with a view to determining areas that may need adjustment.
 
The state Coordinator emphasised to the incubatees that unless they get certified after the training, they would not be empowered with inputs to commence business.  One of the trainees, Miss Lois Nwamuo, at Osisioma Ngwa council training centre, said she is working towards specialising in poultry production.