For many rural farmers and traders in Cross River State, making a decent living has often been a struggle.
But with the intervention of the IFAD LIFE-ND project, small businesses are thriving, and communities are experiencing real economic growth.
Lawmakers from the State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Forestry recently visited Biase, Akamkpa, and Akpabuyo to see firsthand how these projects are changing lives—and they are calling for more.
For years, rural farmers struggled with poor access to markets, and traders had no proper stalls to sell their goods.
But today, through IFAD LIFE-ND interventions, their stories have changed.
The chairman of the committee commended the progress recorded so far, expressing satisfaction with the implementation and impact of the projects.
However, they emphasized the need for similar initiatives to be extended to other local government areas to ensure a wider reach and greater economic benefits across the state.
The State IFAD LIFE-ND Project Coordinator, Innocent Moses, highlighted sustainability plans in place to ensure these interventions continue to benefit communities on the long run.
As the state government continues to prioritize agricultural development, calls for expanding these projects remain strong. Stakeholders are hopeful that more local government areas will benefit from similar initiatives in the near future.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
