By Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
Thousands of farmers across Ebonyi State are set to benefit from the ₦5.17 billion 2026 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPB) recently approved under the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).
The budget, presented by the State Programme Management Unit (SPMU), targets improved agricultural productivity, youth empowerment, and value addition in rice and cassava production across eight participating local government areas in Ebonyi State.
According to the State Programme Coordinator, Ituma Sunday Michael, the total budget outlay of ₦5,175,950,047.80 will be funded through a multi-stakeholder contribution. IFAD will provide ₦4.122 billion, the Ebonyi State Government will contribute ₦176.64 million, while beneficiaries will support the implementation with ₦876.73 million.
Michael disclosed that key components of the 2026 AWPB include the provision of small-scale rice processing equipment—haulers, destoners, weighing scales, and bag-stitching machines—worth ₦150 million for farmers’ organisations across the eight local government areas.
Other major interventions include two rice colour sorters valued at ₦60 million, equipment for youth enterprises involved in vitamin A cassava processing—such as ovens, gas cylinders, extractors, and scales—estimated at ₦22.5 million, as well as weighing scales for youth groups across the participating LGAs, among others.
Speaking after the approval, Michael expressed delight over the committee’s decision, noting that the next phase involves forwarding the draft budget to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Federal Ministry of Finance for concurrent endorsement before submission to IFAD headquarters for final clearance.
“We are glad the committee has approved the 2026 work plan and budget. Once Abuja gives concurrent approval, we will send it to IFAD for a no-objection grant. Hopefully, by the end of this year or early next year, activities will begin across all participating LGAs,” he stated.
According to him, the Ebonyi IFAD-VCDP has empowered thousands of farmers across the state, adding that since its inception in 2015, it has injected over ₦17 billion into the state’s economy through input-matching grants to farmers.
“We have developed 828 hectares of previously uncultivable forest land into productive rice farms. This has led to an annual rice output of over 4,140 metric tonnes, injecting more than ₦850 million into the Ebonyi economy each year,” he said.
He added that the programme has supported farmers to cultivate 16,858 hectares of rice and 2,334 hectares of cassava, resulting in 76,521 metric tonnes of rice and 64,197.5 metric tonnes of cassava in total yield.
The chairman of the VCDP steering committee, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs. Nkechiyere Iyioku, lauded the steering committee and programme team for their dedication, urging them to sustain the momentum.
“The reward for good work is more work. Continue with your efforts so that every part of Ebonyi will enjoy the benefits of these projects,” she stated.
Also speaking, the vice chairman of the steering committee and Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Prof. Leonard Uguru, commended the VCDP for maintaining strong performance metrics, which he said exceeded 90 percent in recent evaluations.
“We’ve been directing other World Bank teams to learn from Ebonyi’s VCDP. Their performance is above 90 percent. But I urge that the programme be expanded to all 13 LGAs so that every part of the state benefits,” Uguru said, maintaining that the expansion will boost food security and improve our state’s economy.
Our correspondent gathered that the Ebonyi IFAD-VCDP currently operates in Ohaukwu, Ezza North, Ishielu, Ivo, Izzi, Ohaozara, and Ikwo local government areas, with a total of 4,481 farmers supported in 2025 and 1,085 farmers set to benefit in 2026.
Some of the achievements of the programme include the construction of processing centres, market stores, access roads, bridges, and culverts, as well as capacity-building opportunities for farmers, youths, and women across participating communities, among others.