IFAD empowers 1,210 farmers in Ondo

The International Fund for Agricultural Development/Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises-Niger Delta (IFAD/ LIFE-ND) has trained 1,210 farmers across 10 local government areas of Ondo State.

The State Coordinator of IFAD, Prince Olawale Ademola, during the disbursement of working capital and graduation ceremony for Ondo LIFE-ND beneficiaries in Akure recently, said the programme was targeting 4,250 youths and women with duration of 12 years.

Ademola explained that the objective was to enhance income, food security and job creation for rural youths and women through agro-enterprise development on a sustainable basis in Ondo State.

The coordinator noted that it focused mainly on the production of cocoa, cassava, poultry and fish with its various value chains, presenting a cheque of N245 million to the first 260 trained farmers and 50 trainers.

He added that 900 other beneficiaries in the state would participate in the next phase, assuring that there would be improvement in efforts to alleviate hunger in the country.

While presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries at the graduation ceremony, the state Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, reaffirmed that the objectives of the project were to boost income, food security and job creation for rural youths and women.