By Correspondent in Lokoja.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has commended the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for the progress his administration had achieved in the implementation of its agricultural Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP-AF).
The IFAD-VCDP Country Programme Officer, Mrs Mariatu Kamara, gave the commendation when she led a team of delegation on the ”9th IFAD Mission Visit To Kogi State”, at Government House Lokoja on Wednesday.
Kamara noted that the IFAD-VCDP started in six States of the federation, adding that because of its successes, the Federal Government requested that it be extended to three additional States which include, Kogi state, based on the additional financing (AF).
She expressed delight that Kogi state had recorded successes in terms of achieving the objectives of VCDP, and for being was one of the first States to provide their counterpart funding at inception.
”However, we notice that in 2021, we have not received any counterpart funding from Kogi.
”We are drawing the attention of the state government to it, so as to ensure smooth execution of VCDP programmes in the state.
”We will like to continue to pledge our continued support,particularly in the agricultural sector, as we know Nigeria could actually become the food basket of West African if the sector is developed,” she said.
She, therefore,appealed for continued support for the benefit rural farmers, especially women and youth.
She assured that the supervision visit would guide IFAD in trying to ensure that the project meets its development objectives.
”We look forward to proper supervision mission with recommendations that would advance the implementation of the VCDP programmes,”Kamara said.
Gov. Yahaya Bello, commended the federal government and IFAD for including Kogi as one of the three new benefitting states in the country.
Bello,represented by his Deputy, Edward Onoja, appealed to IFAD-VCDP team to add more councils to the five benefiting local government areas in the state.
According to him, Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Olamaboro, Ibaji and Kabba-Bunu, were the only five Local Governments Areas currently benefiting in the IFAD-VCDP in the state.
He promised that Kogi would justify its inclusion, adding that the administration had carried out need assessment for the 21 LGAs of the state, upon assumption of office.
He stressed that women and youths in rural areas had shown capacity to add value to agriculture, to earn more income and turn around the state for the better.
The governor thanked the team for their commitment and assured them of government’s preparedness to give them the necessary support at all times.
Bello assured the team of adequate security during their visit, saying that the administration had invested so much in the security sector of the state.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr David Apeh, said the governor attached great priority to food security and poverty reduction in the state.
Apeh said that within a relative short period of VCDP implementation in the state, a lot had been achieved to boost food security and enhance the social economic status of the rural farmers.
The commissioner added that the state government, through the IFAD-VCDP, had provided farm inputs ranging from fertilizer, seeds and chemicals to over 800 rural farmers in the state.
In a vote of thanks, Dr Stella Adejoh, Kogi State Coordinator, IFAD-VCDP Programme, thanked the deputy governor for receiving the team and appreciated the team for the choice of Kogi State.
She added that VCDP had been achieving its mandate in the state by assisting rural farmers to enhance their capacity, income and ensure food security, through production, processing and marketing.
Our Correspondent reports that the team,thereafter,visited some of the FGN/IFAD-VCDP executed projects in some locations in Lokoja.
The VCDP is a programme of Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN),supported by IFAD assisted under United Nations (UN).
IFAD is an international financial institution and specialized United Nations agency, based in Rome charged with the responsibility of serving as UN’s food and agriculture hub, investing in rural people and empowering them to increase their food security.
It is aimed at improving the nutrition of families and increase people’s incomes, “help them build resilience, expand their businesses to enable them take charge of their own development.”
Our Correspondent gathered that the idea behind the formation of IFAD is anchored on the fact that,three quarters of the poorest people in the world live in the rural areas of developing countries most of who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, hence, the need to boost their agricultural activities and improve their living condition.
The management of the international organization said IFAD had provided US$23.2 billion in grants and low-interest loans to projects that have reached an estimated 518 million people since 1978.
