By Correspondent in Lokoja
The FGN./IFAD-VCDP in its quest to enhance the livelihood and wellbeing of rural farmers, have commenced the training of VCDP farmers on best agronomic practices in the cultivation of rice during dry season in Kogi State.
Declaring the training open in Lokoja, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC), Dr Stella Adejoh, stated that the training became necessary because of the devastating effects of perennial flood occasioned by Climate change across the globe.
She emphasised on the need to embrace dry season rice farming because of the negative effects of flooding.
The SPC pointed out that several farmers could not return to their farms as a result of colossal loss to their farmlands due to the massive flood across the state in 2022.
Dr Stella appreciated the IFAD/VCDP for organising such an important training to enhance the knowledge and build the capacity of the rice farmers in the state.
She, however, advised the trainees to take full advantage of the programme and acquire knowledge to better their lots in dry season rice farming.
According to SPC, VCDP, a programme like no other, always thinking of the best way out for its farmers especially the rural farmers in the state.
”This training programme covers all the four VCDP rice producing LGAs of Ajaokuta, Ibaji, Lokoja and Kabba/Bunu respectively,” she said.
Dr Stella opined that those involved in the training were beneficiaries of Rural Poor Stimulus Facility (RPSF) as well as those of Flood Recovery Strategic Inputs.
She commended the efforts of Kogi State Government for always giving necessary support to VCDP programmes and activities in the state to improve the wellbeing of farmers
Giving the overview of the training, an Agronomist/Consultant,from BUMATHA Venture, Prof. Alhassan Usman, explained that the exercise was aimed at supporting the farmers to build their capacity on Climate Smart Farm Management, Post Harvest handling, Decision making, among others.
He also noted that the programme was intended to provide technical extension services to farmers so as to increase their productivity.
Usman said that Farmer Field School (FFS) and Framer Business School (FBS) are critical components of the training, stressing that team work would always generate effective and efficient management of rice farming activities along the value chain.
Our Correspondent reports that the consultant took time to demonstrate to the farmers on site selection, land preparation, nursery practice and trans- planting, rice spacing during planting, application of fertiliser and chemicals as well as other best agronomic practices.
Other technical presentations include weeds, pests and diseases management; raising and managing capital for profitable rice production enterprises, conducting and managing Farmer Field business School.
Some of the trainees across the four benefiting LGAs, commended VCDP for the training describing it as a timely intervention to boost their productivity during the dry season farming, alleviate their suffering and cushion their loses due to flood disaster.
Mr Kudu Abubakar from Kabawa cluster in Lokoja, thanked VCDP for the gesture, saying the training would enhance the farmers knowledge in best agronomic practices thereby increasing their yield.
”We are very grateful to VCDP for always remembering the poor and vulnerable farmers in the rural areas of the state.
Mr Tijani Umoru from Ajaokuta, said that the farmers were impressed by the timely intervention of VCDP, assuring that they would utilise the training received in order to improve on their productivity and better their standard of living.
Another trainee from Ibaji LGA, Mrs Grace Omachonu, also thanked IFAD-VCDP, Kogi State Government and Dr Stella Adejoh, for the support so far, noting that farmers would not let the programme down.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
