By Noah Peter
Over five hundred farmers have benefitted from the dry season farming of Federal Government under its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP-AF) assisted by International Fund for Agricultural Development input to boost rice production in Kogi State.
The State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo who flag-off the distribution was represented by the State Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojoma.
Items distributed include NPK Urea Fertilisers, selective and non selective Herbicides, free Energy Water Pump and Solar-powered , Water pump as well as high quality Rice seedlings.
The Governor reiterated the commitment of the state government to ensure food sufficiency in the state through it Agricultural Programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for providing farm inputs to boost Agricultural Development.
Governor Ododo expressed the readiness of the present administration to contribute meaningful to cluster farming to boost their wellbeing.
The Governor assured that government will continue to create conducive atmosphere and give all the necessary support to ensure that farmers are well empowered for maximum food production in the state.
In a remark , the National Programme Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP, Doctor Fatima Aliyu, said the gesture was to boost rice production amidst the economic hardships in the country.
Aliyu, who was represented by Alh. Nurudeen Tafida, the National Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor, stressed that the gesture was to enhance the economic base of Kogi as well the country at large.
She appreciated Kogi State Government as key stakeholder in giving the programme strong support which according to her, has achieved tremendous success in the state.
The National Coordinator advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the input so as to improve food production and ensure food security especially in the present economic hardships the nation was passing through.
In her opening remark,the State Programme Coordinator, Doctor Stella Adejoh said the IFAD-VCDP was giving support to farmers across the five benefitting Local Government areas of Kogi State to increase rice yield.
Doctor Adejoh said, a total of five hundred and thirty four rice farmers would benefit in the 2023/2024 dry season inputs distribution in Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Olamaboro, Kabba-Bunu and Ibaji Local Government Areas.
She emphasised that the initiative was meant to cushion the effect of the present economic hardships in the nation, and improve the livelihoods and living conditions of the farmers.
Some of the beneficiaries, Mrs Victoria Enebi, Samuel Ayuba and Mrs Olushola Adetunji, from Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Kabba-Bunu respectively, thanked the Kogi State Government and VCDP for the initiative to boost rice production.
