IFAD Commends Niger State’s Outstanding Performance in Value Chain Development Programme
By Priscilla Ben
The Country Director International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Dr. Dede Ekoue has commended Niger State Government for it’s outstanding performance in the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP ) in the country..
Dr Ekoue gave this commendation during a courtesy visit on the State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago in Minna.
She described the state Government’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers, as key to the success of IFAD VCDP in Niger State adding, ” the ripple effects of the programme’s achievements in Niger State goes beyond Africa”.
The IFAD Country Director who is in Minna with her team for the VCDP 12th Supervision Mission to review the programme in Niger state said
what the programme has so far achieved where about 25,000 farmers and agro processors are being supported,is going to be leveraged on to invest more money in Nigeria.
The National Programme Coordinator, IFAD VCDP, Dr. Fatima Aliyu in her remarks said, the programme is being implemented across nine local government areas of the state with Intensive training of youth on mechanisation in agro fabrication, agro production and refresher trainings addwhile that Niger State is one of the States VCDP is piloting to have developed products from financial institution partners with Agro processor loans.
She noted that Niger State is one of the flagship states of the VCDP, which is why it is benefiting from the $3.5 million grant for the Agricultural Smallholder Adaptation Project (ASAP), aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in adapting to climate change.
” The ASAP project will benefit Niger and Kogi States, with a total of 24,000 beneficiaries, and 19,000 beneficiaries specifically are in Niger State. This project will provide critical support to smallholder farmers, including women and youths in enhancing their resilience to climate change and improving their livelihoods, ” Dr. Aliyu maintained.
The Mission Technical Lead, Mrs. Adeline Muheebwa attributed the success of the program’mes to the political will and support of the state government, which has enabled remarkable progress in Niger State.
She also mentioned that consultants and technical specialists from eight different countries have come to review the programme’s progress.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Mathew Ahmed acknowledged the efforts of IFAD VCDP in helping the State to be on the right track in agricultural transformation noting that the programme has been implemented in the State for the past 11 years with lots of achievements.
Responding, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Abubakar Usman thanked the assessment team for the visit and assured that the state will continue to work and partner IFAD by providing enabling environment for the programme to succeed.
He reiterated the commitment of Governor Bago to ensure that all counterpart fundings are paid to enable more rural farmers to benefit adding that the State is ready to learn from all the recommendations the team will be making after it concludes its mission.
End.
