The International Fund for Agricultural Development in collaboration with Federal Government and the Niger Delta Development Commission said it has empowered no fewer than 26,000 youth and female farmers in the Niger Delta through its  Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises project.

The Country’s Director of the organisation, Madam Dede Ekoue, stated this on Saturday after the fourth supervision mission of the project in Akure, the Ondo State Capital.

Ekou, who was represented by the Project Technical Lead and Global Technical Specialist Rural Development and Institutions, Dr Abdoulaye Gonde, said the international organisation was  committed to empowering the most vital segments of society.

According to her, the project provides the beneficiaries access to finance, inputs, and markets, significantly to enhance their productivity in agriculture.

She said, “We are witnessing these achievements first-hand during our field visits. For instance, LIFE-ND interventions are leading to a remarkable increase in the laying rate of poultry, exceeding 90 per cent , broilers reaching 2.5 kg in just 42 days, catfish achieving table size in six months, and tomato yields exceeding 37 tons per hectare.

“Moreover, the innovative use of poultry manure as organic fertilizer is not only boosting crop yields but also reducing fish feeding costs and protecting our environment. As we look forward, we remain committed to scaling these successes, enhancing climate resilience and ensuring sustainable agricultural  practices. Together, we can continue to transform  the agricultural landscape and empower the rural youth and women of Nigeria.”

Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator of the FGN/IFAD/ LIFE-ND, Dr Abiodun Sanni, expressed delight that the fourth supervision mission had been a great success as testified to by the IFAD team from IFAD headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Sanni explained that the organisation had increased the number of beneficiaries in the country, adding that  specifically, “4,250 people have benefitted in the state while 3,500 out of them have been empowered.”@

He added that the beneficiaries were being supported holistically and being followed to address their challenges in whatever enterprises they had chosen.

In his remarks, the Ondo State Coordinator of the FGN /IFAD/LIFE-NG project, Prince Olawale Ademola, explained that the visit of the national coordinator and his team was about supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the project.

“The IFAD team in collaboration with the Federal Government team came to actually see some of the things we have implemented on the field in terms of empowerment in Ondo State.  I know that the team is highly impressed. Though the team cannot get to all our beneficiaries across the state, where they have visited so far, the project is successful.”