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By Correspondent in Lokoja
The Kogi State Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP-AF) on Thursday, handed over constructed rice mill facilities worth over N30 million to Gaskiya Cluster rice farmers in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The constructed facilities handed over are: Gaskiya Rice Mill Processing centre with Parboiled Shed and Drying Slab, Solar Borehole and Market Stalls at Kungbani community of Lokoja Local Government Area of Kogi State.
The VCDP-AF is a programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria supported by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) assisted under United Nations (UN).
Speaking during the hand over ceremony, the Kogi State Programme Coordinator of IFAD/VCDP, Dr Stella Adejoh, commended the projects’ conctractors for a job well done and for strictly adhering to the proposed specifications for the projects.
Adejoh also appreciated the entire staff and management of Kogi VCDP for their unflinching support and commitments toward the successful realisation of the projects.
The programme coordinator specifically commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his gesture toward the people of Kogi, especially at the grassroots.
She explained that the project was a community driven development aimed at ensuring that all the stakeholders at the grassroots were duly carried along in decision making.
She noted that the choice of the projects’ site was taken by the Gaskiya cluster farmers, saying that the projects’ location was just by the road and would be easily accessible by everyone.
She thanked God for the successful completion of the projects.
She added: ”So, today we are here to hand over these executed projects to the cluster, so that you can take ownership of your facilities”.
Afwjoh urged the beneficiaries to take adequate care of the projects in terms of maintenance and security, noting that the projects were worth millions of naira.
”We are also in the process of providing you with the rice mill processing equipment, so, it is not just the building alone.
”For the equipment, there is what we call the matching grant; you are to provide 30 per cent of the equipment fund while the VCDP will provide 70 per cent”, she said.
She noted that the cluster’s 30 per cent must be on ground before the VCDP would add its 70 per cent before the equipment can be supplied.
Speaking on behalf of the cluster, Alhaji Bala Yusuf, Head of Gaskiya Rice Mill Processing Cluster, thanked the VCDP and Governor Bello for the gesture.
Yusuf assured that the cluster would do everything it could to ensure that the projects were well secured.
On their part, Hajia Rabiat Gimba, Head of Gaskiya Rice Per-biolers; and Hajia Lari Suleiman, Head of Gaskiya Marketers, both commended the VCDP and Kogi State Government, for remembering rice farmers at the grassroots.
The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of keys of the facilities by the Programme Coordinator, Dr Stella Adejoh to Mr Bala Yusuf, on behalf of the cluster farmers.
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