In a bid to broaden the scope and to create awareness of its activities, the
Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), a rural based agri-enterprise development organization held an interactive session with the media followed by a tour of selected incubation centres in Bayelsa State.
State Project Coordinator of LIFE-ND, Dr. Panebi Ugo who was represented by Mr. Principal Okpu, State Agro-business Promotion Officer said the essence of the media interaction and tour of incubation centres was to ensure visibility as well as let the public know the programmes and projects being embarked upon by the organization.
According to him, the project which is to last for six years is targeted to empower 4000 incubatess in the state by transforming the rural economy by means of enhanced income, food security and job creation for rural youths and women through agri-enterprise development.
Okpu explained that the project is currently ongoing in four commondities areas of cassava, aquaculture, poultry and plantation farming which the state has comparative advantage, adding that it adopts incubation model of apprentenship and mentorship of incubatees to become agrientrepreneurs.
He noted that apart from the payment of a monthly stipend for their upkeep, incubatees upon completion of the stipulated two cycle of apprentenship by an incubator, are given a soft loan of between N700,000 to N1,200,00 for the mentorship phase depending on the commondity as startup.
The State Agro-business Promotion Officer stated that LIFE-ND carries out regular evaluation and monitoring of incubatees to address shortcomings and challenges, adding that incubatees have been insured against possible losses by the Nigerian Agriculture Insurance Corporation.
Speaking to newsmen, the Manager of Bimmo Intergrated Farms LTD, Mr. Boudeigha Immotongha who is also an incubator said the LIFE-ND Project is a life changing one that has enabled him expand on his poultry business as well as mentor several incubatees to become agrientrepreneurs.
Immotongha while thanking IFAD for the support and the funding as well as the opportunity to mentor incubatees, noted that the project is designed to transform the rural communities through Agro-business.
Also speaking, an inductees, Mrs. Esther Sam-Arigbe described the programme as a life transforming, adding that the project will enable her become self reliant.
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