The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), through its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), has distributed farm inputs to rural farmers in Kogi State to enhance their productivity, income and ensure food security in the state.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony at Kungbani community in Lokoja, Kogi State Coordinator for IFAD-VCDP Programme, Dr Stella Adejoh, said VCDP is aimed at enhancing rice and cassava value chains for sustainable agricultural transformation.
She added that VCDP’s mandate was to assist rural farmers to enhance their capacity, income and ensure food security through production, processing and marketing.
According to her, over 800 farmers would receive inputs for wet season farming across the five VCDP LGAs in Kogi which include: Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Kabba/Bunu, Ibaji and Olamaboro LGAs.
She added the VCDP had also distributed inputs to farmers’ organisations at Okumi during the dry season rice farming which enhanced their production.
Adejoh expressed gratitude to Governor Yahaya Bello, for his support and the prompt payment of the State’s counterpart fund, which had enabled farmers in the state to benefit from IFAD-VCDP programme.
Two of the beneficiaries, Mr Mohammed Sule, and Mrs Martha Ochimana, both appreciated the VCDP and the state government for the gesture, saying it would boost their farm produce.
