Over two million naira worth of knapsack sprayers and spraying kitting tools have been distributed to specially trained IFAD Value Chain Development Program youth farmers as empowerment measures.
The youths, who are one hundred in number and selected from the five participating Council Areas were specially trained on modern spraying technology, pesticides calibrations and proper dressing codes by IFAD VCDP at IITA Ibadan.
The distribution took place at the state Agricultural Development Program office in Awka.
The State Program Coordinator, IFAD Value Chain Development Program, Mr. Nnamdi Agwuncha, while giving out the kits said they have trained the youth farmers, twenty of which were selected from each of the five participating Council Areas.
Mr. Agwuncha who asked them to form cooperative societies in their various council areas and assist the farmers to meet their pest control needs noted that farmers are by this arrangement discouraged to go into pesticide control by themselves for safety reasons.
While announcing that the empowerment is on matching grant basis where the beneficiary will pay thirty percent of the cost and IFAD VCDP will offset seventy percent, Mr. Agwuncha described it as the first of its kind in the history of VCDP states.
The state Agric Production Officer IFAD VCDP, Mr. Emmanuel Chukwukwelu made it clear that as a result of the toxic nature of pesticide and environmental pollution, the youths were trained on the effective and economic safety in handling of pesticides.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Pastor Benjamin Onyebuchi from Mgbakwu Awka North Council Area and Mr. Chukwemeka Nneli from Umueri Anambra East Council Area while expressing their joy over the empowerment, assured to make a living from it and also train more youths.
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