ibironkeeniola 
Drought conditions affecting farmers in the Rio Grande Valley, on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has revealed that it has extended the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for three more years so as to benefit dry season farmers in Niger.
This was disclosed in Minna by the state Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Mathew Ahmed at the VCDP-Additional Financing (AF) state sensitization and mobilization.
Dr Ahmed said, “The IFAD-VCDP has been extended for three more years to accommodate dry season farming. This process will help Niger state produce quality rice of international standard.
“The programme would involve local government areas and it would target over 30, 000 farmers prioritizing majorly on women and youths in the state,” he added.
Ahmed said that the target of the VCDP AF is to address dry season farming by the provision of tube wells, irrigation facilities.
Ahmed also disclosed that Niger state would top the chart in the implementation of the VCDP-AF in the six participating states of Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Niger, Ogun, and Taraba state.
He assured that the Federal government would ensure that prompt payment of its counterpart fund to the VCDP-AF project.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA