By Lanre Shodimu
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has flagged off the distribution of processing and post-harvest equipment to the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), supporting farmers and agribusiness groups in Nasarawa State.
While speaking during the flag off of the distribution ceremony which is part of a two-day working visit to Lafia in Nasarawa State,the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said that the intervention would add value, reduce post-harvest loss, empower women and youth farmers, encourage competitiveness and boost productivity
Kyari stated the equipment would also support enterprise growth, deepen market participation, and expand opportunities for rural employment.
The Highlights of the event of the 2 Days working visit were the distribution of agricultural inputs namely; 46- Tricycles, 16- Rice Steam Parboiling Machines, 18- Rice Milling Machines, 10-Rice De stoning Machines, 3- Rice Colour Sorting Machines, 11- Digital Weighting Scales, 2- Rice Dehusking Machines, 4- Cassava Grating Machines, 4- Cassava Manuel Fryers, 3- Automated Framers, 3- Hydraulic Pressers, and courtesy visit to the Nasarawa State Governor.
He revealed that the programme, implemented with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is targeted towards addressing structural constraints in the rice and cassava value chains through integrated investments in production, aggregation, processing, infrastructure, market access, and institutional strengthening, as well as aligning with the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP).
The Minister underscored the programme’s commitment to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration’s drive towards agricultural transformation, saying, “agriculture must deliver results, food for our people, jobs for our youth, income for our farmers, and stability for our nation.”
“Under Mr President’s leadership, agriculture is being transformed into a modern, market-oriented and private-sector-driven enterprise, with Nasarawa State leading the way”, the Minister said.
Kyari further revealed that the Nasarawa Agro-Commodity Company (NASACCO) and the One-Stop Investment Centre (OSIC) are key initiatives strengthening the state’s investment climate.
He commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for his commitment to large-scale cultivation, noting the State’s efforts to boost domestic food supply, stabilise prices, conserve foreign exchange, and create jobs.
The Minister pointed to visible results of federal-state partnership, including functional aggregation centres, modern processing facilities, and strengthened producer organisations.
“These interventions are creating jobs, stabilising rural incomes, and strengthening Nasarawa State’s contribution to national food security,” he said.
In his remarks, the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule stated that the state government has aligned its agricultural programmes in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the sector, which is geared toward economic diversification and creation of wealth for Nigerian farmers.
He stated that the reforms in the agriculture sector would empower youth and women farmers in the state and also ensured increase in production and locally generated revenue.
In her welcome address, the National Programme Coordinator, FGN/IFAD – Value Chain Development Programme, Dr Fatima Aliyu stated that the programme would assist rice and cassava smallholder farmers through a value chain approach to enhance productivity, promote agro-processing and increase access to markets.
She added that the initiative would transform the agricultural sector of rural Nigeria by achieving food security, increasing incomes and creating new employment opportunities.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiary, Chairman, Ashangwa Rice Innovation platform, Patience Wombo pledged that the Association would maintain and protect all facilities provided by the VCDP to ensure that there is an increase in production, packaging and distribution of agricultural products.
As part of his visit to Nasarawa State, the Minister commissioned the following FGN/IFAD – Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Lafia, Nasarawa State, namely: Value Chain Innovation Rice Processing, Ashangwa, Gidi Gidi Garri Processing Centre, Agi Alo Rice Processing Centre, among others.
