The Kogi State Government, working in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) through its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), has distributed agricultural inputs and cargo tricycles to 572 rice and cassava farmers as part of efforts to strengthen food security and improve agricultural productivity.

The distribution exercise was officially inaugurated in Lokoja on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojomah, who described the initiative as a significant milestone in advancing food security, increasing farm productivity and fostering inclusive economic growth across the state.

According to Mr Ojomah, the intervention underscores the commitment of Governor Ahmed Ododo’s administration to empowering farmers, improving livelihoods in rural communities and promoting sustainable agricultural development throughout Kogi State.

He also praised Governor Ododo for prioritising agriculture through the prompt payment of counterpart funds, noting that the financial commitment has been instrumental in ensuring the successful implementation of agricultural development programmes.

The commissioner further commended IFAD-VCDP for expanding farmers’ access to quality agricultural inputs, promoting climate-smart farming practices, strengthening farmer organisations and improving agricultural value chains.

He explained that the beneficiaries received fertilisers, improved rice seeds and cargo tricycles to enhance farming operations, minimise post-harvest losses and ease the transportation of agricultural produce to markets.

Mr Ojomah added that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was gaining momentum in Kogi through Governor Ododo’s sustained support for grassroots farmers aimed at improving food production and rural livelihoods.

He urged all beneficiaries to make effective use of the farm inputs to boost yields, increase incomes and contribute meaningfully to food security.

Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Fatima Aliyu, represented by her Personal Assistant, Hamza Shehu, said the distribution marked another important step toward increasing food production and strengthening food security nationwide.

Ms Aliyu encouraged beneficiaries to utilise the farm inputs and cargo tricycles responsibly to achieve the programme’s objectives of improving farmers’ welfare and promoting economic empowerment.

Earlier, the State Programme Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Stella Adejoh, explained that the programme was established to transform rural economies by providing smallholder farmers with quality agricultural inputs, improved technologies, mechanisation support and enhanced market access.

She revealed that a total of 7,575 farmers engaged in the rice and cassava value chains are currently benefiting from IFAD-VCDP interventions across the five participating local government areas of Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, Ibaji, Ajaokuta and Olamaboro.

Ms Adejoh disclosed that the current wet season intervention specifically targeted 572 farmers, comprising 285 cassava farmers and 287 rice farmers.

Breaking down the beneficiaries, she said the cassava farmers included 85 adult women, 124 adult men, 38 female youths and 38 male youths. The rice beneficiaries consisted of 72 adult women, 45 adult men, 82 female youths and 88 male youths.

She further detailed the items distributed, stating that cassava farmers received 540 litres of herbicides, 1,120 bags of NPK fertiliser and 14,000 bundles of improved cassava stems. Rice farmers, meanwhile, were provided with 520 litres of herbicides, 260 bags of certified rice seeds, 520 bags of urea fertiliser and 1,040 bags of NPK fertiliser.

In addition to the farm inputs, the programme distributed 42 mini cargo tricycles and six heavy-duty cargo tricycles to support produce aggregation, transportation and improved access to markets.

Ms Adejoh advised beneficiaries to regard the distributed items as productive assets rather than commodities for sale, stressing that their proper utilisation would enhance productivity, improve household incomes and stimulate rural prosperity.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Kogi Agricultural Development Project (ADP), Bello Ogirima, commended Governor Ododo for his sustained commitment to agricultural development through continued investment in extension services and food production.

Mr Ogirima described the Kogi ADP as the backbone of agricultural development in the state and noted that the IFAD-VCDP had simplified farming activities for beneficiaries. He added that the programme has become a household name in Kogi, with communities across the state continuing to benefit from its interventions.

Source: People Gazette