The Federal Government on Friday launched a comprehensive package of agricultural support in Kogi State aimed at improving productivity, enhancing food security, and promoting youth empowerment across the state.
The support package includes the distribution of dry season farming inputs, the establishment of a seed testing laboratory, and the training of youths in equipment fabrication under the International Fund for Agricultural Development – Value Chain Development Programme (FGN/IFAD-VCDP).
Launching the programme in Lokoja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said the initiatives were designed to stimulate rural economic growth while strengthening food security.
According to Ogunbiyi, the VCDP has supported over 5,832 farmers across five Local Government Areas in Kogi State, with benefits extending beyond direct beneficiaries to farming communities across the state.
Represented by the Director, Department of Donor Agencies, Dr Adebola Iluromi, Ogunbiyi commended the Kogi State Government for what he described as strong political will and the prompt payment of counterpart funding obligations to the programme.
He urged the state government to institutionalise the programme by transforming it into a state agency when IFAD support comes to an end.
“The initiatives, which include the introduction of dry-season rice farming and provision of irrigation facilities, have improved productivity, income levels, and resilience among beneficiary farmers,” he said.
The National Programme Coordinator of FGN/IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, said the items distributed included improved rice seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, and other complementary materials to support dry-season rice cultivation.
Aliyu stated that the VCDP has supported over 5,877 farmers across the rice and cassava value chains in Kogi State, with emphasis on youth empowerment and mechanisation.
She explained that the 5,877 beneficiaries comprised 2,602 males, 3,275 females, and 2,101 youths.
“The programme has also empowered 30 youths from Kogi State with training in equipment fabrication and maintenance,” she said.
Aliyu added that the trained youths would be provided with starter packs to enable them begin their entrepreneurial journeys.
She further disclosed that a seed testing laboratory had been established under the programme to support the testing and certification of different categories of seeds.
“Kogi holds a special place in my heart, as the state has consistently distinguished itself in the effective implementation of the VCDP across participating states,” Aliyu said.
She noted that Kogi was quick to adopt dry-season rice farming, enabling farmers to cultivate rice three to four times a year, thereby boosting productivity, incomes, and food security.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Ojomah, praised the Federal Government and IFAD-VCDP for empowering farmers in the state, stressing that the intervention had improved food security and livelihoods.
Ojomah said the initiative aligned with the youth empowerment and food security agenda of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Earlier, the State Programme Coordinator, Dr Stella Adejoh, highlighted the programme’s achievements in Kogi State despite prevailing economic challenges.
Adejoh said the programme would support 787 farmers with inputs and equipment during the dry season, covering 756 hectares of farmland in the five benefiting Local Government Areas of Lokoja, Ibaji, Kabba-Bunu, Ajaokuta, and Olamaboro.
She praised Governor Ododo for his consistent support, particularly his commitment to timely funding and agricultural development.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Moru Ahmed, expressed appreciation to the programme, saying, “We’re extremely thankful to FGN/IFAD-VCDP for empowering youth farmers at the grassroots. It’s really improved our lives.”
Ahmed, who is the Chairman of the Asco Ajaokuta cluster, pledged that farmers would use the inputs and equipment responsibly to achieve the programme’s objectives.
Items distributed included 756 bags of improved rice seed, 3,024 bags of NPK fertiliser, 1,512 bags of urea, and 1,512 units of herbicides.
Also distributed were critical processing equipment such as power tillers, hydraulic jacks, mechanised frying machines, rice polishers, colour sorters, parboiling pots, and industrial scale machines covering 756 hectares.
Dignitaries at the event included the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Folashade Ayoade; Deputy Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Comfort Egwaba; Managing Director of Kogi ADP, Dr Bello Ogirima; and the State Project Coordinator, Kogi L-PRES, Mr Abdulkabir Otaru, among others.
Earlier, the programmme trained 20 Kogi youths.
