No fewer than 630 youths and women in Cross River State have benefited from the first batch of the second phase additional financing of the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE ND) Project, as the Federal Government, in collaboration with the Cross River State Government, flagged off the 2026 farming season and disbursed support packages to beneficiaries.
By Victoria Omini CALABAR
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, input distribution and official flag off of the farming season, officials of the programme described the initiative as a major step towards youth empowerment, sustainable agriculture and food security in the Niger Delta region.
The State Project Coordinator of LIFE ND, Mr. Innocent Musesubi, disclosed that the exercise involved the issuance of certificates, cash disbursement and agro input support to beneficiaries across different agricultural value chains.
According to him, 250 beneficiaries are to benefit from the cash component of the programme with a total sum of N100 million earmarked for disbursement, while the remaining beneficiaries would receive support in agricultural inputs.
He explained that the beneficiaries were spread across four major commodities including rice, cassava, poultry and fish production.
“Today we have the flag off distribution for the long term and short term incubatees, as well as issuance of certificates and cash disbursement to beneficiaries of the cash component.
“We have 630 beneficiaries in all. Those in the long term category underwent training for about three months while the short term category had training lasting between two to three weeks,” he said.
Musesubi added that beneficiaries involved in rice and cassava production received fertilisers and agrochemicals, while those in poultry and fish production would be supported differently based on the peculiarities of their enterprises.
He also outlined the transparent process adopted in selecting beneficiaries, noting that advertisements were carried out through radio announcements, newspapers, flyers, churches and community notice boards before expressions of interest were received from intending participants.
According to him, selection was done with the involvement of community stakeholders including youth leaders, women leaders, traditional representatives and identified incubators.
Also speaking, a representative of the Cross River State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Ude Kona, who represented the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, said the ministry had continued to provide oversight, monitoring and supervision for the implementation of the project in the state.
He noted that the state government remained committed to working closely with LIFE ND to ensure effective training and empowerment of youths and women through agriculture.
Kona explained that long term incubatees, especially those in cassava production, would continue practical field activities for up to one year in order to apply the agronomic practices learnt during training and improve productivity.
Earlier, officials of the programme commended the Federal Government for creating the enabling environment that made the intervention possible through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Niger Delta Development Commission.
They also acknowledged the role of the Cross River State Government in the payment of counterpart funds and its commitment to rural development through agriculture.
The beneficiaries were urged to utilise the support as a catalyst for expanding their businesses, creating employment opportunities and contributing to food security in the state and the country.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Ogenjom Ibuna Ben from Ogulude community in Obubra Local Government Area, narrated how the programme transformed his livelihood.
He said after receiving N526,000 support in 2023, he established a one hectare rice farm and later expanded to five hectares after harvest.
According to him, the expansion enabled him to acquire a power tiller, threshing machine, rice milling and destoning machines, while also establishing a mechanical workshop for repairs and sale of spare parts.
He expressed appreciation to the LIFE ND project, noting that he was later elevated from incubatee to incubator due to his success story.
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