VCDP TARGETS STATEWIDE EXPANSION TO SUSTAIN FARMERS BEYOND IFAD SUPPORT

VCDP TARGETS STATEWIDE EXPANSION TO SUSTAIN FARMERS BEYOND IFAD SUPPORT
The Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining and expanding the achievements of the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), with plans to extend its interventions to all 20 local government areas of the State while deepening rice and cassava value addition to improve farmers' incomes and livelihoods.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Angel Adelaja-Kuye, made this known during an engagement with the executive members of the Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF), led by its Chairman, Alhaji Kamorudeen Shokunbi, at the Ministry's Conference Room in Abeokuta.

Dr. Adelaja-Kuye said the IFAD-assisted VCDP has recorded remarkable successes in empowering farmers, particularly women and youths, through capacity-building programmes, improved agricultural practices, and training in cassava processing and other value addition activities.

She noted that beneficiaries of the programme have acquired practical skills in the production of high-quality cassava flour and other cassava-based products, demonstrating the enormous commercial potential of locally processed agricultural commodities and creating additional sources of income for rural households.

The Special Adviser disclosed that the Ministry is also exploring innovative ways to promote the commercial utilisation of cassava peels and other by-products, stressing that every component of the crop can be transformed into valuable products, thereby eliminating waste, promoting environmental sustainability, and increasing farmers' profitability.

"There should be nothing wasted in cassava production. We are looking at ways to add value to cassava peels and other by-products so that farmers can maximise returns from their harvest," Dr. Adelaja-Kuye said.

She further explained that beyond cassava and rice, the programme's current priority commodities, the Ministry is developing strategies to incorporate additional agricultural value chains in order to broaden economic opportunities for farmers and strengthen agricultural value chain development across the state.

According to her, the Ministry is equally committed to strengthening the farmers' association established under the programme, noting that the association has already begun taking significant steps toward self-reliance by funding its activities through members' contributions and registration fees in preparation for the eventual exit of donor support.

Dr. Adelaja-Kuye called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, private sector stakeholders, farmers' organisations, and the media to sustain the gains recorded under the VCDP and ensure that more farmers across Ogun State benefit from increased productivity, value addition, improved market access, and enhanced food security.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF), Alhaji Kamorudeen Shokunbi, explained that the Forum is the apex body of all VCDP commodity groups in Ogun State that was established by the IFAD-assisted VCDP as an official exit strategy institution to manage, maintain, and sustain all VCDP infrastructure, investments, and institutional assets across the eight participating local government areas.

Shokunbi disclosed that the Forum represents over 15,000 smallholder farmers, processors, marketers, and agribusiness actors engaged in rice, cassava, and other agricultural value chains  mandated to ensure that the over ₦1.2 billion investment jointly made by IFAD, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the Ogun State Government continues to deliver lasting benefits through a sustainable, member-driven operational structure.

He appealed to the Ogun State Government to continue providing policy direction, technical advisory support, and institutional collaboration to enable the Forum effectively discharge its mandate and preserve the legacy of the VCDP for future generations of farmers.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

GOV. ABIODUN APPROVES 100,000, 20,000 CHRISTMAS BONUS FOR STATE WORKFORCE

Image
GOV. ABIODUN APPROVES 100,000, 20,000 CHRISTMAS BONUS FOR STATE WORKFORCE  The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun (CON) has approved the sum of 100,000 and 20,000 according to grade level for State workforce. The information made available to CSR Watch Concept repoter by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information & Strategy, Alhaji Waheed  Adesina at Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta , stated that Levels 1-8  N20,000, Levels 9 - 10  N25,000, Level 12  N35,000, Level 13 -14  N40,000, Level 15. N55,000,  and Level 16 and 17 would get N100,000 each. According to the PS , "the Governor gesture  is the usual end of the year parting gift to the State workers to  put smile on our faces as he has graciously approved the payment of money for all categories of workers in the State with the least paid worker receiving N20,000.  The Governor wish all workers  merry Christmas and a prosperous 2024, charging all wo...
Read more

Public Assault; Ogun State Government Suspends Olorile of Orile-Ifo for six months

Image
Public Assault; Ogun State Government Suspends Olorile of Orile-Ifo for six months In a bid to ensuring dignity of persons and for the protection of sanctity of our revered traditional institution, the Ogun State Government led by Prince Dapo Abiodun, has placed Oba Abdulsemiu Adewale Ogunjobi, the Olorile of Orile-Ifo on six months suspension for his uncivil conduct not befitting the status of an Oba.  The decision was reached after the Kabiyesi and his victim were invited by the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Local Govt and Chieftaincy Affairs for interrogation. This became imperative as a result of the reckless utterances and public misconduct of the Kabiyesi as it was evident in the social media and being bandied in the larger public space.  After the investigation conducted on the matter, the Kabiyesi has been suspended and stripped of the paraphernalia of the stool of Olorile-Ifo pending the determination of his culpability or otherwise on the allegatio...
Read more

OGSG APPOINTS CDA MEMBERS AS SECURITY NETWORK GOVERNING BOARD

Image
OGSG APPOINTS CDA MEMBERS AS SECURITY NETWORK GOVERNING BOARD Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has approved the appointment of four distinguished members of Community Development Association (CDA) across the Remo, Ijebu, Yewa and Egba divisions of the state as members of the Governing Board, Ogun State Security Network Agency and Amotekun Corps. The Commissioner, Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives, Hon. Ademola Balogun, while presenting the letters of appointment on behalf of the Governor to the appointees in Abeokuta said, the approval was “in a bid to ensure effective and efficient management of the State security network”, charging them to deepen the operation of the Amotekun Corps and collaborate with other security agencies to rid the state of all criminal elements. The new appointees, Mr. Adekunle Waheed representing Egba Division, Hon. Olusegun Taiwo, Remo Division; Alh. Aminu Taofeek, Yewa and Hon. Adewale Kuojo, Ijebu Divisions, were enjoine...
Read more