IFAD VCDP Holds Promotional Campaign On Certified Seeds In Awka

In preparation for this year’s main farming season, Anambra state farmers have been exposed to various outlets in the state where they can access certified seeds for high yield.

The sources were disclosed to them during a Promotional Campaign and Entrepreneurship Development for trained IFAD VCDP certified seed producers held at the conference hall of the ADP in Awka.

Following the satisfactory graduation of twenty youths in seed rice production and fifteen in cassava stem multiplication across the five IFAD VCDP Participanting Local Government Areas at IITA Ibadan in Oyo state and National Root Crop Research Institute at Umudike in Abia state, Anambra state has joined the league of certified seed producing states.

Confirming the genuineness of the state’s certified seeds, a rice farmer from Innoma, Anambra West council area, Honourable Amos Ogone expressed satisfaction that they now have certified seed producer in their locality with legitimate seed that give desired yield saying that it has saved them the pains of coming to the capital city to access same.

A cassava stem multiplication farmer from Nando, in Anambra East Council Area, Mrs. Theresa Okenu explained that cassava stem can only be cultivated three times, noting that after that any
further cultivation will amount to very low yield.

Earlier in his opening speech, the State Programme Coordinator, IFAD VCDP, Mr. Nnamdi Agwuncha charged them to always look out for opportunities that will prosper and move them to the next level.

Mr. Agwuncha, who announced that they will buy all the certified seeds produced in the state to effetely serve the state farmers before other states come for them, noted that they will intensify the campaign for ripple effect.

The State Rural, Youth Gender Institution and Mainstreaming Officer, IFAD VCDP, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyasie said the campaign was aimed at popularizing the seed entrepreneurs to reduce the use of grains and local varieties by farmers as continuous recycling of grains reduce yield per hectare, high risk of diseases and post infestation.

In a lecture, the Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Charles Onugu represented by Mr. Chuks Obianefo and another resource person, Mr. Ifeanyi Okoye who
encouraged farmers to always use certified seed for high yield and nutritious value , noted that government cannot and will never provide enough job to absorb the increasing labour force, hence the need for them to create a job and not looking for where to work.