The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has called on rice farmers in Taraba State to enhance their productivity in a bid to ensure food security.
The head of the Knowledge Management Committee (KMC) of VCDP Taraba, Dauda Marafa, issued the charge yesterday, during a learning visit to Malam Muniru Mafindi’s dry season rice farm in Gassol local government council of the state.
Addressing farmers from Karim-Lamido, Donga, and Bali local government areas, Marafa encouraged them to adopt best practices from Mafindi, whom he described as a consultant in modern rice farming.
“VCDP has organized this visit to provide you with practical insights into setting up a dry-season rice farm using modern techniques to achieve better yields,” Marafa said.
Adding that the initiative was approved by Mr. Irimiya Musa, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC), to empower farmers for a more prosperous future.
In her remarks, the Rural Institutions, Gender, and Youth Mainstreaming Officer of VCDP Taraba, Mrs. Altine James, the urged the farmers to seize the opportunity to learn and replicate the innovative practices in their communities.
She noted that many of the visiting young farmers were previously trained at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan under VCDP’s Community Rice Seed Entrepreneurs program and have since made significant contributions to their communities.
James highlighted Mafindi’s exceptional approach to rice farming, which has set him apart as a role model. His innovative techniques, including weed control, water management, land selection, and farm timing, have made him a sought-after consultant across Taraba and beyond.
Mafindi, who led the farmers on a tour of his expansive rice farm, credited his success to the IITA training he received in 2017, which he said transformed his farming skills.