Over 800 cassava and rice farmers in Kogi state have benefited from farm input distributed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP-AF) to enhance their productivity.
The inputs which include fertilisers, faro 44 rice seedling variety, herbicides, insecticides and cassava stems was funded by IFAD in collaboration with federal government and Kogi state government.
Addressing the beneficiaries during the flag-off of distribution of 2021 wet season inputs to cassava and rice farmers at Kumgbani community in Lokoja local government area on Monday, the state coordinator, VCDP Dr Stella Adejo, stated that the mandate of VCDP was to assist the rural farmers to realise the essence of farming through enhancement of their capacity, income as well as ensuring food security via production, processing and marketing of cassava and rice.
She noted that the over 800 beneficiaries of the programme cut across farmers from five benefiting local government areas of Ajaokuta, Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, Ibaji and Olamaboro.
“VCDP stands for farmers in the rural communities that has less than five hectare of farm land we support the farmers that formed farmers organizations in form of clusters” She said.
While commending the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for paying the counterpart fund that enable the programme commenced, Dr Adejo disclosed that the programme
has established rice processing unit in Kungbani community for the farmers who are in processing, adding that market and a bore hole have been provided to support the farmers.
The Kogi state Commissioner for Agriculture represented by the director agric services Mr Okolo Ichaka, appealed to the beneficiaries to judiciously use the inputs for the purpose it was meant for to spur the agency and State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to do more for farmers in the state.
In his remark , the Managing Director Jufem Agro-Chemical and service provider of the programme, Adeyemi Olubunmi, said the inputs were carefully selected to boost the farmers’ yield at the end of harvesting season.
He stated that the choice of faro 44 variety was borne out of its ability to withstand flood, noting that NKP, Urea fertilisers and herbicides were provided to enhance the growth of their crop.
