The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has pledged continued legislative backing for the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP), following an assessment of its interventions in rural communities across the state.
The commitment was made by the Assembly’s Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources during an oversight visit to the programme’s state office in Abakaliki.
Committee Chairman, Onyebuchi Ogbadu, commended the programme for its contribution to agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods, particularly through interventions aimed at strengthening rice and cassava value chains.
According to the committee, the programme has helped farmers gain better access to markets and agricultural resources while supporting infrastructure that can improve production and movement of farm produce.
Presenting an account of the programme’s activities, the State Programme Coordinator, Sunday Ituma, said the initiative currently covers eight local government areas spread across Ebonyi’s three senatorial zones.
Ituma said 23,163 farmers had been profiled, while 18,083 beneficiaries had received direct support as of December 31, 2025.
The programme’s interventions, he explained, include the construction of market facilities, rural access roads, culverts and mini-bridges, as well as solar-powered boreholes, irrigation facilities and sanitation infrastructure.
Other interventions include modern agricultural processing centres, a seed laboratory, farmers’ fields and business schools, land-clearing support and the distribution of subsidised farm inputs such as fertilisers, agrochemicals and improved seeds.
The focus on rice and cassava is consistent with IFAD’s broader objective for VCDP, which is to strengthen agricultural value chains, increase market opportunities for smallholder farmers and improve rural incomes and food security.
Ituma urged the lawmakers to consider establishing a legal framework that would allow the programme’s interventions to continue beyond its current project lifespan, effectively preserving the gains already made in rural communities.
Members of the Assembly committee also called for the expansion of the programme to other local government areas that are not currently covered, saying broader participation would allow more farming communities to benefit.
The development comes as Ebonyi continues to maintain agricultural partnerships and funding commitments linked to IFAD/VCDP. The state’s 2026 budget includes provision for its counterpart contribution to the programme as well as funding for agricultural infrastructure.
The Assembly’s position therefore places emphasis not only on recognising the programme’s achievements but also on creating a framework that could sustain its benefits for farmers after the project period.
