By Samuel Ekele.
The Ibaji Flood Plains MPCS Initiative has empowered no less than 280 rice and beans women farmers from across 14 villages in Ibaji local government area of Kogi state.
The women farmers were offered cash assistance to alleviate the pains and loss recorded from 2022 flood disaster that displaced many and destroyed most farmlands across Ibaji local government.
Executive Chairman of Ibaji Flood Plains MPCS, Dr (Mrs) Joy Ukoje said the objective of the cooperative is to assist farmers in Ibaji local government area who were affected by flood, to mitigate future flooding as well as improve their socioeconomic well being.
Dr. Ukoje explained that the initiative is also to support the industrious people of Ibaji flood plains and environs to rebuild livelihoods and homes of the most vulnerable.
The beneficiaries were drawn from Ichala, Makoja, Iyano, Unale, Aya. Echono, Ayeke, Ihile, Ujeh and Otah villages in Ibaji LGA.
Others are, Elele, Ugwoda, Uchuchu and Ineneh/Ejulofe.
The farmers expressed gratitude to the group for coming to their aid after the devastation of their homes and farmlands in last year’s flood menace, adding that the unfortunate situation left them without a source of livelihood.
A rice farmer, Esther Emmanuel from Ichala village, appreciated the donor for the intervention, saying it has helped in stabilizing their lives.
Another rice farmer from Ichala, Christiana Achoba, said the money provided for them by the donor to farm has given them their lives back as the rice harvested and sold from their farms have been used to uplift their standard of living.
Also, Titi Acholo, a rice farmer from Makoja village said the donor had not only brought succour to them but appealed to them to do more for them.
Ramatu Daniel, a beans farmer from Makoja village, called on the donors to do more for them as wet season farming was close.
One of the leaders and a focal person, Daniel Acholo, who spoke n behalf of other beneficiaries, caled on federal and state governments to dredge River Niger in order to stop the annual flooding in the area.
The farmers appealed to government to help prevent incessant attacks on their farmlands by herdsmen, assist them in land clearing, provide them with modern farming equipment and inputs as well as construct access roads in their villages so that they can transport their farm produce to the market.
Executive Chairman of Ibaji Flood Plains MPCS, Dr (Mrs) Joy Ukoje, noted that visits to the farmers and their farms was impressive as there were evidences that monies given to them was expended for the right purpose.
According to her, the next phase of the campaign is to mobilise funds and get support for the construction of community shelters across Ibaji flood plains, adding that there was a designed prototype ready.
The chairman also noted that any individual who takes up the construction of any community shelters will have it named after him or her.
She thanked all the sponsors and called on government and spirited individuals to support the cooperative.
