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Agricultural industry

Empowering Young Farmers in the Niger Delta Region: LIFE-ND Programme's Impact

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has launched the LIFE-ND programme to promote income-generating enterprises in the agribusiness value chain for youth and women in the Niger Delta region. The programme, which targets 38,250 beneficiaries across nine states, aims to provide skills and training in various agricultural activities, including fishery, poultry, oil palm, rice, plantain, and cassava production.

Key Takeaways:

  • The LIFE-ND programme has been implemented since 2019, targeting 38,250 beneficiaries in the nine Niger Delta states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.
  • The programme provides skills and training in various agricultural activities, including fishery, poultry, oil palm, rice, plantain, and cassava production, with a focus on promoting income-generating enterprises.
  • The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has provided counterpart funds for beneficiaries from Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers states, indicating positive impacts on the beneficiaries.
  • Some of the youth who enrolled in the project have acquired good skills in producing, processing, and marketing their products profitably along the selected value chains.
  • The project has also provided mentorship opportunities, with some young farmers learning from well-established farms and farms under mentorship.
  • Mr. Bassey Eteyit, an 'incubator' and General Manager of Eteyit Farms in Akwa Ibom State, has 10 youth under his farm, and has noted the project's sustainability.
  • One of the incubatees, Utibe Monday Alexander, has stated that the project has helped him gain knowledge in fish production and processing.
  • The project inspection team has commended the incubators and incubatees, highlighting the benefits of the enterprise and its value chain.

Statistics:

  • 38,250 beneficiaries targeted across nine Niger Delta states
  • 10 youth under the care of Mr. Bassey Eteyit, an 'incubator' and General Manager of Eteyit Farms in Akwa Ibom State
  • 3 states receiving counterpart funds from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC): Akwa Ibom, Imo, and Rivers states

Sources:

  • Federal Government's partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on the LIFE-ND programme
  • Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) providing counterpart funds for beneficiaries
  • Media reports on the implementation of the LIFE-ND programme
  • Project inspection team's reports on the positive impacts of the programme

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