The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development, has provided support to over 121,000 smallholder farmers across nine states by supplying essential farming inputs.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance food security in these regions. Fatima Aliyu, the National Programme Coordinator for the FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, shared this information on Thursday in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa State, during the programme's 11th supervision mission.

Aliyu emphasized that the programme is dedicated to the sustainable production, processing, and marketing of rice, cassava, and other crops.

The nine states benefiting from this initiative include Nasarawa, Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Ogun, Niger, Taraba, Kogi, and Enugu. She highlighted that the programme aims to uplift the lives of smallholder farmers by generating job opportunities for women and youth, thus increasing the income levels of impoverished rural households.

Additionally, the National Programme Coordinator noted the establishment of a Rice Innovation Centre for processing rice in the Ashangwa community of Lafia Local Government Area, along with an aggregation centre to facilitate the storage of agricultural produce, among other projects in the state.

“The primary goal of the VCDP is to enhance the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the targeted states. We have visited our project sites today to evaluate the initiatives being managed by the farmers.

The beneficiaries consist of farmer groups and cooperatives, with all facilities owned by them to improve their living standards. In all interventions, these groups contributed 30 percent of the total cost for the equipment acquired for rice and cassava processing, ensuring they have full ownership.

We prioritize women and youth, and we are pleased to see many of them becoming employers, generating wealth, and contributing to community development,” she concluded.

The Director of the Project Coordinating Unit at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Kush Kukwi, expressed his approval of the project's implementation progress in the state.

He stated, "The visit to the state has been fruitful as we have observed the rice processing center and other facilities established to enhance the livelihoods of rural farmers. I commend the VCDP for its dedication to improving the lives of farmers in Nasarawa State and beyond." Kukwi also encouraged beneficiaries to continue the production, processing, and marketing of rice and cassava even after the program concludes.

Earlier, Eunice Adgidzi, the Nasarawa State Programme Coordinator for the VCDP, welcomed dignitaries from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and other regions, noting that the program began in July 2020 across communities in Lafia, Doma, Wamba, Nasarawa, and Karu Local Government Areas. She highlighted that the initiative focuses on four key areas: gender and youth, nutrition, financial inclusion, and climate change.

"Since its inception, the VCDP has supported 4,023 farmers involved in various enterprises within the rice and cassava value chains, comprising 2,364 males and 1,659 females, including 1,370 youths," she added.

Bitrus Alaku, representing the beneficiaries, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and IFAD for consistently providing farming inputs, noting that the VCDP's implementation has significantly reduced poverty and enhanced food security in his community.