Ogun State government has announced that its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has directly impacted 17,264 beneficiaries across eight local government areas.
Bolu Owotomo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, made this known on Tuesday in Abeokuta during a policy engagement and stakeholders’ forum on the Gender Action Learning System (GALS).
The VCDP is a federal government initiative, funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in collaboration with the Ogun government and farmers’ organisations. It was created to support smallholder farmers in rice and cassava value chains, helping them increase productivity to strengthen food security and boost economic growth.
According to Mr Owotomo, the beneficiaries included 7,433 men, 4,906 women, 2,941 male youths, and 1,984 female youths. He explained that 15,000 of them were rice and cassava producers, while more than 100 others were engaged as processors and marketers.
“Yields have improved impressively; rice productivity has more than doubled from 1.5 metric tonnes to 3.1 metric tonnes per hectare. While cassava yields rose from 18 metric tonnes to 33 metric tonnes per hectare,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted that one of the strongest aspects of the programme was its focus on gender equity and social inclusion through GALS. “As the programme gradually winds down, we are called to ensure that the seeds of transformation it has planted continue to flourish across our communities,” he said.
Mr Owotomo stressed that the Ogun government remained committed to agriculture as a cornerstone of economic development, noting that food security and agribusiness remain central to the state’s growth strategy.
In her presentation, the acting programme coordinator, Abiola Sobukola, said GALS had recorded transformative results among beneficiaries, including more women actively taking part in household decision-making. She called on policymakers and stakeholders to expand its use in the state.
Waliu Owode, chairman of the Ogun House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, added that the assembly would continue to enact gender-friendly laws to support farmers and promote agricultural development.