FIC Report (Nasarawa State) – The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has said the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) is a deliberate policy of the federal government of Nigeria that is aimed at alleviating the sufferings of farmers and stabilizing food prices.
Senator Kyari stated this at the flag-off ceremony of the distribution of agricultural equipment to farmers in Nasarawa State at Government House Lafia.
According to him the FGN/IFAD – VCDP was one of the visions of President Bola Tinubu to alleviate the sufferings of the people and farmers at the grassroots.
“The VCDP target is to reach 135,000 farmers, but we’re so far dealing with 150,000, and we still have some more time before this Programme actually lapses.
“This Programme is one of those visions of Mr President in trying to alleviate the sufferings of the people and I know farmers are complaining of inputs, We are going to bring down the inputs. It’s going to be a deliberate effort,” he said.
The minister commended the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr Abdullahi Sule, for his efforts in making the state a hub for agriculture, saying, “Nasarawa State ranks number one within the VCDP programme in collaboration and also coming up with counterpart agreements.”
He congratulated the beneficiaries and thanked them for keying into the Programme and sued for the sustainability of the projects implemented in the state.
In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Sule
commended the VCDP for its efforts in promoting agricultural development in the state.
The Governor while stressing the importance of focusing on the complete value chain in agriculture, said, “We decided to support the VCDP for the fact that they are looking at the aspect of value chain. You know, in agriculture, because of the post-harvest wastages, it is very, very important to look at the complete value chain, and I think that is exactly what we are trying to practice today.”
Governor Sule expressed his commitment to ensuring the sustainability of agricultural projects in the state, assuring that a strategy would be put in place to sustain the programme at its lifespan.
“By the grace of God, we are going to get somebody to take over that will do better than what we are doing.
“Nasarawa State continues to remain, as a state of agriculture, and that is the reason why, if we become number one in VCDP it’s not going to be a surprise because we want to continue to encourage our small-scale farmers in order for them to be independent, and I think they are doing so, and I want to congratulate our farmers for the wonderful thing that we are doing,” he added.
Governor Sule expressed his gratitude to President Tinubu for his support and encouraged small-scale farmers to be independent.
On her part, the National Coordinator of the VCDP, Dr. Fatima Aliyu, revealed that the programme has transformed smallholder farmers into employers of labour, impacting over 150,000 farmers and processors across nine states in Nigeria.
Dr Aliyu said, VCDP was unique in all projects as it deals with the value chain, from the beginning of production up to the table , adding that it also shows that smallholder farmers can be economically viable and smallholder farming was profitable.
She commended Governor Abdullahi Sule, for his support to the programme, saying, “He is a friend of the VCDP. We’ve been coming for supervision missions and the two times that we came for supervision mission, the Governor was gracious enough to welcome us and give us audience.”
According to her the VCDP has recorded significant achievements, including the mobilisation of over 19 million naira by women farmers in Nasarawa State for their own activities.
She also stated that the programme has been recognised by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for its gender-friendly approach, winning the 2021 Gender Award for West and Central Africa.
Dr Aliyu appealed to the government to upgrade VCDP to an agency, citing its impact on the ground, saying, “We’ve made these people from subsistence farmers to employers of labour. And we’re forging the economy of our country, all-inclusive economic growth.”
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Tanko Tunga, expressed the state’s appreciation to the Federal Government and development partners for their commitment to agriculture transformation in the State.
Hon Tunga commended the Honorable Minister for his leadership and efforts towards repositioning Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He highlighted the state’s agricultural potential, with vast arable land, favorable climate, and hard-working farming communities, noting that agriculture was a critical pillar for economic growth and poverty reduction in the state.
The Commissioner acknowledged the achievements of the VCDP, including access to improved inputs, strengthened farmer organizations, and improved market linkages, saying it has significantly contributed to food security and economic empowerment in rural communities.
The equipment distributed included tricycles, weight scales, destroyers, petrol and diesel engines, colour sorters, electric motors, and small-scale rice mills, among others even as the beneficiaries had paid their 30% matching grant, demonstrating their commitment to the programme.
The Minister, his delegation and Governor Sule were taken on a tour of various project sites, including Kwanka and Ashangwa, where they commissioned some projects as well as witnessed the impact of the VCDP on farmers and farmer organisations.
Some of the projects commissioned include; Agi- Alo Rice Processing Centres, Kwanka and Value Chain Innovation Rice Processing Centre, Ashangwa both in Lafia Local Government Area , among other projects.
The event was attended by officials from the Federal Government, the Nasarawa State Government, and representatives from the farming community.
Signed
ARI, LIMAN AMINU.
HEAD OF CENTRE,
FIC, LAFIA.
