Enugu: Over 8,000 Farmers, SMEs Benefit From World Bank Project

About 8,520 persons have so far benefitted from the World Bank-assisted Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project in Enugu State.

This was made known by Cecilia Ezeilo, the Enugu State Deputy Governor, during a two-day World Bank 9th Implementation Support Mission held in Enugu on Tuesday.

Ezeilo said the project has empowered Small and Medium Enterprises totalling 3,478, the Women and Youths Empowerment Programme (WYEP) and 1,700 farmers.

She explained that the APPEALs project had impacted greatly on the agricultural sector in Enugu State.

Ezeilo said: “Many farmers in the state have also benefited through capacity training, technology demonstration, and construction of aggregation and processing centres.

She added that the support from the APPEALS Project had impacted farmers in enhancing their productivity across the three priority value chains of rice, cashew and poultry.

“I wish to assure the World Bank Task Team Leader for APPEALS, Manievel Sene, that we are doing everything possible to ensure the construction of 13.3 kilometres access roads.

“We are working to fast-track the implementation of energy and more,” she said.

On his part, Alhaji Mohammed Jobdi, the National Project Coordinator, APPEALS, said the plenary was aimed at interacting and reviewing what APPEALS Project had done.

He explained that the gathering would offer them an opportunity to interact with experts on what the state had achieved and address issues facing the project in the state from achieving its objective.

Speaking also, Sene reiterated the World Bank's interest to support the project in the state.

“I am proud of APPEALS in Enugu State and we will continue to ensure that the project succeeds in the state,” he said.