Kogi State Government promises continuous counterpart funding for VCDP to boost Cassava production and processing

Kogi State Government has promised to support the  Value Chain Development Project (VCDP) towards enhancing Cassava production and processing for sustainable agricultural transformation in the state.

Speaking of Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf made the promise during Advocacy and Policy Dialogue on the Cassava Value Chain (Import Substitution), organised by the Value Chain Development Project in Lokoja.

Represented by the member representing Ogori mangongo constituency at the state House of Assembly, Hon. Bode Ogunmola, the speaker emphasized  the role of the state Assembly in law making, appealing to the VCDP to be on the same page with the  Assembly to enable it enact law that will promote a smooth running of agricultural activities and development in the state.

The speaker expressed the committement of Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to boosting agricultural productivity in the state and urged the management of VCDP in Kogi State  to ensure that targeted farmers are well captured to complement the efforts of the state Government in its agricultural revolution.

In his remark, the State Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojoma commended the State Coordinator of the programme, Doctor Stella Adejoh for her effort to ensure the promotion of agricultural projects in the state, saying she has called for about five impactful programmes this year, saying it underscored the importance Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo places on agricultural development in Kogi State.

The Commissioner maintained that the State Government has empowered over one thousand, two hundred cassava farmers in its intervention within this year, including; tractorization, imput provision and some extension services to farmers in the state.

According to the Commissioner, Kogi State Government, in its efforts to maintain its position as the number one cassava producer in Nigeria, will continue to support the VCDP in cassava production and processing by ensuring counterpart funding of the project.

"You will recall in our intervention, over one thousand two hundred cassava farmers were empowered in Kogi state within the year...in a bit to ensure that we maintain our position as a higher producer of cassava in the country. So, I want to sincerely appreciate the state project coordinator for this initiative in supporting cassava protection and processing". He said.

He noted that, to whom much is given much is expected, appealing to beneficiaries to make judicious use of every opportunity given to them to enable the State Government, Federal Government, International Food Agricultural Development  ASSISTED achieve set objectives in agricultural development in the state and the country at large.

The National Project Coordinator, Doctor Fatima Care Aliyu commended Kogi State Government for its unwavering support for VCDP especially counterpart funding, which brings about the realization of the projects in the state.

Doctor Fatima who was represented by Agama Okoh, noted that Kogi State standout in its performance and supports to VCDP among other states that join the project, saying it has set a pace and assured of harmonizing every available resources to grow the cassava value chain in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

Earlier, the State Coordinator, Value Chain Development Project, Doctor Stella Adejoh, said the essence of Advocacy and Policy Dialogue on the Cassava Value Chain was to draw government attention into cassava farming to increase production in the state,  improve income generation for small farmer holders, improve livelihood of timid population, as well as bring about economic growth for Kogi State and Nigeria at large.

She noted that Kogi State Value Chain programme is intervening in five participating Local Government Area including; Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Ibaji, Kabba Bunu and Olamaboro Local Government Areas in supporting farmers who engages in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava to increase productivity across cassava value chain.

Doctor Stella maintained that VCDP in the state supports Farmers by providing them with imputs and teaching them good Agronomic practices that will help to increase their productivity, saying not individual farmers but farmers' group, women, Youths and people living with disabilities who are interested in engaging in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava.

She noted that so far in Kogi State, between January 2021 and July 2024, VCDP has been able to supported four thousand, two hundred and twenty-nine (4,229) farmers, lamenting that cassava farmers are faced with various challenges including; land tenure system, incessant farmer-herder clashes, poor access to mechanization, poor infrastructures among others and appealed to the Government not to relent efforts at supporting the projects in the state.

Some participants, Umoru Tijani Ahmed and Rachael Akonde described the programme as impactful, saying it has enlightened them of greate opportunities embedded in cassava farming, promising to put the knowledge gained into practice and called on people of the state especially unemployed youths to key into cassava farming for self-reliance.

Stakeholders at the event are policy makers including the speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly and  other Assembly members, Commissioners, Local Government Chairman, political appointees, stakeholders from private sectors, farmers among others to discuss on how to reduce challenges facing and increase cassava production   to bring about economic growth in the State and the country at large.