From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
No fewer than 560 farmers in selected local government areas of Kogi state got special intervention by the International Fund for Agricultural Development/Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD/VCDP) of farming inputs to boost food security and cushion the damaging effects of COVID-19 on rural farmers.
The farming inputs which were distributed to the beneficiaries includes; rice seedlings, assorted fertilizers and chemicals.
Speaking at the flag off ceremony held in Lokoja on Thursday, the National Director of the programme, Dr. Mrs Fatima Aliyu disclosed that the scheme is in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture of which Kogi state stands to be the first beneciary.
Aliyu charged the benefitting farmers to ensure that the agricultural inputs placed at their disposal were judiciously used to improve upon their farm work and not to be sold.
“This gesture should be regarded as rare Privileged meant to ensure buffer harvest for farmers to have good income that would enhance their livelihood and boost food security within their immediate Communities at large” the National Director admonished.
She called on the Kogi State Government to ensure prompt payment of its counterpart contribution for effective execution of IFAD/VCDP Programme in the state.
The Kogi state commissioner for Agriculture, David Apeh while flagging off the distribution of the farming inputs, gave an assurance that government will not relent in the provision of secured environment for farming activities to thrive in the state.
He advised the beneficiaries to make the best use of the farming inputs to increase their productivity.
In his goodwill message, Commissioner of Commerce and Industry, Yunusa Olofu declared that agriculture remains the biggest labour market for the unemployed.
He also maintained that diversification to agriculture is the only solution to the nation’s dwindling economy.
In her welcome address, the Kogi State Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Mrs. Stella Adejoh disclosed that IFAD/VCP operations and activities which started two years ago had made positive impacts on the lives of the rural farmers.
She said that since inception, many communities across the state were provided with rice processing centres with processors, drying slab, solar powered boreholes, construction of market stalls and dry season rice demonstration plots among other achievements.