Beneficiaries of the Federal Government Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises, Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project, recently, showcased their farm produce at the Edo Alaghodaro food fair held in Benin.

LIFE-ND is being funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The farmers, who came from different councils of the state, brought food items cultivated after series of training acquired from LIFE-ND project.
Food items at the fair were sold at subsidised rates in line with the state government’s directives. The items include, garri, rice, fresh catfish, poultry birds, processed catfish, cassava and cassava flour.

The farmers, who were mainly youths, women and physically challenged persons, said they were grateful for the opportunity to have a ready-market for their produce.

Speaking to newsmen, Mrs Grace Nwaozuzu, a physically challenged poultry farmer, said the food fair was a great platform to show how much government’s agricultural policies have impacted the people’s lives.

According to Nwaozuzu, “I sold all the poultry birds I brought at subsidised rate and I am happy that I made money.Mr Sunny Odeh, a fish farmer who also thanked members of the Alaghodaro board for the initiative, said having a ready market alone was an empowerment. Odeh, however, called on the organisers of the event to hold the food fair regularly.

The State Project Coordinator, John Omoruyi, said the project is operational in the nine Niger Delta states, adding that the project was promoting four commodities of poultry, rice, cassava and fish in Edo.

He noted that the Federal Government and the IFAD through LIFE-ND have invested heavily in agriculture, saying that ready market like the Edo food fair would encourage more people to go into farming.