IFAD calls for sustained agricultural development in communities

Irene Jumbo, the National Coordinator, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has urged youths in the Niger Delta to sustain agricultural activities in their communities.

Jumbo said this at a training programme for Community Apex Development Association (CADA) members from Akwa Ibom and Abia on Wednesday in Uyo.

She said the training was to empower CADA members to sustain agricultural development in rural communities in the Niger Delta ahead of the exit of the IFAD programme in September.

Jumbo said that CADA should remain a reference point for future donor planning to initiate development programmes in the area.

She said the only request made by communities to government and donor organisations until now was for infrastructure instead of agriculture.

“We do not want to exit without strengthening you for sustainable development. Community Apex Development Association (CADA) is our exit point, it is very important we train you for continuity. You will be an entry point when any partner agency wants to come to your community,” she said.

Jumbo said that agriculture remains the greatest employer of labour and wealth creation in the country.

CADA members, she said, were trained on institutional capacity building, strategic development plan, income generation, record keeping and packaging.

She urged the participants to cooperate with one another and share knowledge.

One of the participants from Akwa Ibom, Aniefiok Unwene, said that the knowledge acquired would be used to improve his piggery business.

He added that he would share the knowledge with his community members who were unable to attend the programme.

“The training was fruitful; it has made us to remember those things we had forgotten. I will train those who were not privileged to attend the programme,” Unwene said.

Also speaking, Miss Blessing Jumbo, a participant from Abia, said that the knowledge acquired had taught her how to initiate market strategies for her business.

(NAN)