From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The International Fund for Agricultural Development/Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD/VCDP), on Friday, commenced monitoring of rice farming activities of the beneficiaries of its agric inputs in Kogi state.
The National Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Fatima Kabir Aliyu told journalists that the essence of the exercise is to ensure that beneficiaries of both youth and women rice farmers make judicious use of the agric inputs provided them by the international agricultural agencies.
The National Coordinator who was represented by her Technical Assistant, Alhaji Hamza Shehu disclosed that the farm inputs distributed to rice farmers in Kogi recently is aimed at cushing the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on their livelihood as well as boosting the nation’s food and economic security.
According to Dr. Fatima Kabir Aliyu”the monitoring exercise is going to be a continuous one ranging from plantation, harvest and judicious use of the proceeds by the rice farmers
“The monitoring exercise is also very critical in our commitment to justify our huge investment in Agriculture to reduce the aftermath effect of COVID-19 pandemic.
The monitoring team visited three rice farms located at Magajiya, Kabawa and Geregu in Lokoja and Ajaokuta Local Government Areas of Kogi state where the team expressed satisfaction with the positive response of the rice farmers for the opportunity given them.
Three leaders of the farming groups, Fatima Shehu, Kudu Mohammed and Ali Abi expressed joy for the rare privilege given to them with an assurance that they will comply with the conditions attached to the farm inputs provided them.
Earlier, the Kogi State Coordinator of IFAD/VCDP, Dr Stella Adejoh gave an assurance that she will ensure the success of the programme in the state.
“We will endeavour to impress upon the benefiting farmers to make use of the agric inputs as intended” she said.
She commended the National Coordinator for her roles on improvement of agriculture to reduce poverty and ensure food and economic security.
It would be recalled that IFAD/VCDP recently distributed farm inputs such as rice seedlings, chemicals and fertilizers to over one hundred youth and women rice farmers in Kogi in a bid to reduce poverty and boost food security in Nigeria.