LIFE-ND: FGN, NDDC, IFAD Project Uplifts 4,387 Beneficiaries In Edo

The Federal Government in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is conducting a joint supervision mission for the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project in Ondo State.
This initiative, aimed at creating employment opportunities for youths and women in the Niger Delta, has made significant strides in the agricultural sector over the past five years.
The LIFE-ND Project employs an incubation model, where unemployed youths interested in agriculture are trained by experienced master trainers who are experts in various agricultural commodity value chains.
The project focuses on seven key commodities: Cassava, Rice, Plantain, Oil Palm, Aquaculture, and Poultry, covering the value chains of production, processing, and marketing.
The joint supervision mission in Ondo State is a biannual activity involving the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the NDDC, and IFAD.
It aims to review the project’s performance across various commodities, provide technical support, and allow stakeholders to observe the project’s progress in real-time.
The mission is led by Mrs. Adeline Muheebwa, a gender and agriculture specialist, and includes highly experienced consultants from the agricultural sector.
Spanning from June 25th to July 19th, 2024, the 4th joint supervision mission includes visits to beneficiaries engaged in agribusiness ventures such as cassava, cocoa, aquaculture, and poultry.
The mission observed the integration of environmental sustainability, climate change considerations, and nutrition in all the sites visited.
In Edo State, the project has supported 4,387 direct beneficiaries. These beneficiaries are engaged in the production, processing, and marketing value chains of rice, cassava, poultry, and fishery commodities.
This effort reinforces the project’s commitment in Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Ondo, contributing to sustainable agricultural development in the Niger Delta.
This exercise will culminate in a thorough assessment of the project’s performance, combining field data and detailed professional desk work conducted by development experts.
The goal remains to empower 25,500 youths and women across the six states of Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Ondo, reinforcing the project’s commitment to sustainable agricultural development in the Niger Delta.