The federal government has begun the distribution of free farm inputs to more than 560 rural farmers in Kogi State

The distribution is on the platform of the Value Chain Development (IVCDP) Programme supported by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

Speaking at the inauguration on Friday in Lokoja, the National Programme Coordinator, FGN/IFAD-VCDP, Dr Fatima Aliyu, said that the gesture was to boost food security and cushion the damaging effects of COVID-19 pandemic on rural farmers.

She noted that that the VCDP was a joint programme of the Federal Government and IFAD and is implemented by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

According to her, the project aims at improving the incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in the production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava on a sustainable basis.

”In early 2020, there was an outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic which affected the world and disrupted farming activities and food systems.

”To cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on farmers, IFAD gave a grant tagged Rural Poor Stimulus Facility (RPSF) to VCDP through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

”The grant is meant for vulnerable farmers in VCDP states of Enugu State, Kogi, Nasarawa State, Anambra, Benue, Niger, Taraba and Ebonyi to sustain production and help them recover more quickly from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

”Through the RPSF 2,793 vulnerable farmers will receive agro inputs to support their farming activities.

”A total of 560 farmers will receive these inputs free consisting of 40kg certified rice seeds, 2 litres of herbicides, two bags of NPK fertiliser and one bag of Urea fertilizers in Kogi state,” she said

Aliyu was overwhelmed by the efforts and commitment of the state programme Coordinator, Dr Stella Adejoh, saying that is why Kogi State is always ahead of others in the COVID 19 palliative.

She noted that VCDP would also provide extension services to targeted farmers who would receive trainings on good practices in the application of fertiliser and agro-che.

”We recognizse and appreciate the support of IFAD in our quest to improve the livelihoods of our small holder farmers and specifically to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the agricultural sector particularly for VCDP farmers.

”To our respected farmers, we implore you to make judicious use of the inputs. The inputs are not meant to be sold out but for you to use them on your farms.

”We are going to support you with extension services and monitor your progress to ensure you have better yields to enhance your food security and incomes and ultimately your standard of living,” Aliyu said.

He thanked Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi for his commitment and support to the VCDP, and assured him of their unwavering collaboration with the state to improve the livelihoods and income of the farmers.

In his remarks, the Kogi Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr David Apeh, who inaugurated the inputs’ distribution, said that government would not relent in providing secured environment for farming activities to thrive in the state.

Earlier, the State Programme Coordinator, Dr Stella Adejoh, expressed her joy and fulfillment over the exercise, urging the farmers not to play with their tomorrow by selling the input.

She said that the 560 rural farmers cut across the four rice producing local government areas of Lokoja, Ibaji, Ajaokuta and Kabba/Bunu, adding that the initiative was meant to reduce the pains brought on the people by the outbreak of the pandemic.

She noted that IFAD-VCDP operations and activities which started two years ago had made positive impacts on the lives of the rural farmers.

She said that since inception, many communities across the state were provided with rice processing centres with processors, drying slabs and solar powered boreholes, among others.

She thanked the state Government. Yahaya Bello for providing the enabling environment for the IFAD/VCDP programmes to thrive in the state.

She assured that IFAD would collaborate with relevant stakeholders for effective monitoring and supervision of the beneficiaries down to their farms for judicious use of the inputs,”Adejoh said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Salihu Abdullahi, Chairman Magajiya farm cluster, Lokoja, commended the IFAD-VCDP for the initiative to alleviate the sufferings of rural farmers.

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The Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, on Thursday began the distribution of 114, 315 (50kg) bags of fertilisers to farmers affected by 2018 flooding in Kogi State.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, handed over the bags fertilizers to the Kogi State Government during the inauguration ceremony in Lokoja, for onward distribution to farmers affected by the 2018 flooding in the state.

She said that the bags of fertiliser would be distributed by the ministry through National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to farmers in collaboration with the State government.

The minister also monitored the disbursement of two months Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, under the Emergency Agricultural Intervention Programme beneficiaries under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).

According to Farouq, 19,803 bags of fertilizers will be distributed to farmers in Ofu and Lokoja Local Government Areas of the State.

“The total quantity of NPK fertilizers required after verification of the farmers is 114,315 bags of 50kg: 54,900 bags were delivered to the State.

“From the quantity delivered, 35,097 bags were distributed to farmers in five Local Government Areas including Kogi (Koton Karfe), Ajaokuta, Igalamela-Odolu, Omala and Ibaji. Starting from today, 19,803 bags of fertilizers will be distributed to farmers in Ofu and Lokoja Local Government Areas.

“The balance of 59,415 bags being processed by the blending plants will be delivered as soon as it is ready.

“It is worthy of note that fertilizer distribution is the final phase of Federal Government assistance to the farmers to enable them to recover from the losses suffered in order to alleviate poverty and empower them.

”May I, therefore, use this opportunity to appeal to the beneficiaries to make the best use of the fertilizer,” she said.

The Minister noted that Kogi State is an agrarian State with the citizens largely engaged in farming activities, saying, ”the frequent occurrence of flood has continued to threaten this potential.

“The Yearly Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency on 24th January 2020 and the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released by the Hydrological Services Agency, have forecasted that in Kogi State, the highly probable flood risk in 2020 will include Bassa, Dekina, Lokoja, Omala local Government Areas; while the probable flood risk areas are Idah, Igalamela-Odolu, Koton-karfe, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Adavi Local Government Areas.

Also inaugurated was the roll out of Agricultural inputs to be distributed to Kogi farmers and nationwide as parts of the Federal Government’s palliatives against COVID-19 pandemic.

In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammed Sabo-Nanono, said the agricultural inputs was parts of the federal government’s palliatives to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on food and nutrition, as well as security of the nation.

Sabo-Nanono handed over farm inputs including cashew seeds, soya beans, sesame seeds and agrochemicals to the State Government for distribution to farmers.

The minister urged the beneficiaries to use the agricultural inputs judiciously to make food abundantly available in the country in order to defeat the negative impacts of COVID-19 in the country.

In his remarks, Kogi Deputy Governor, Chief Edward David Onoja, who flagged off the distribution on behalf of Gov. Yahaya Bello, applauded Mr President’s kind gesture for supporting the farmers in the state with farm inputs and fertilizers, assured that the support will go a long way to boost agriculture and alleviate poverty.

He promised that the fertilisers would be effectively utilised and distributed accordingly as specified by the minister in the five council areas.

He also thanked the Federal Government for supporting the poorest of the poor in the State through the CCT programme.

Also present at the occasion was the Director General of NEMA, Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd), officials of both the Ministries of Agriculture and Humanitarian Affairs.

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