From Struggle to Success: Kogi Farmers Praise FGN/IFAD-VCDP’s Intervention
By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja, Feb. 10, 2026
Farmers in Kogi State have commended the Federal Government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP-AF) for transforming their lives and livelihoods.
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During a media tour to VCDP project sites in Ajaokuta and Lokoja, farmers praised the programme’s impact on their production, income, and well-being.
“We thank IFAD-VCDP for this support. Without them, none of this would be here. The facilities, including the transformer, drying slab, parboiling shed, and aggregation center, were all supported by Kogi VCDP,” said Moru Tijani Ahmed, Chairman of ASCO Cluster and Commodity Alliance Forum.
Ahmed praised the programme’s Coordinator, Dr. Stella Adejoh, saying she’s ensured benefits reach the grassroots, making them direct beneficiaries – producers, processors, and marketers.
“The processing facility uses a false bottom method, ensuring clean and hygienic production. We’re proud to produce clean, chaff-free rice from Ajaokuta.
“The rice is washed, parboiled, and steamed without water contact, resulting in international-quality rice.
“We package in 5kg, 10kg, 25kg, and 50kg bags, and it’s already in the market. We’re proud to produce clean, chaff-free rice from Ajaokuta.
“We appreciate IFAD-VCDP’s support and hope to expand our scope.
“Before VCDP’s intervention, farmers struggled. Now, we’ve seen improvements in production and income. We’re grateful for the support and look forward to continued growth,” Ahmed said.
Other farmers echoed similar sentiments. “We’ve seen a significant increase in our rice yield,” said Sule Mohammed.
“We sell 100kg of rice paddy at good price per bag, and buyers come from the North to purchase our produce.”
“The VCDP support was instrumental to our success,” said Mohammed Musa.
“Our livelihoods have improved tremendously through Kogi VCDP inputs’ support, enlightenment, and training. It’s helped us improve our farm yield up to four times the previous harvest,” Musa added.
A female farmer, Sadiyat Umar, said the bumper harvest had helped them improve their standards of living.
“We thank VCDP for providing us with improved rice seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, harvesters, reapers, pumping machines, and other essential farm inputs,” she said.
Agada Salifu, Chairman of Miller Ajaokuta Cluster Farmers, said, “We’re grateful for the support and look forward to continued growth.”
Ahmed Rafat-Onize, Prize Winner at Talent Choose Nutrient Confessionary, thanked the Federal Government, IFAD, and Kogi State Government for sponsoring her to participate in a nutrition exhibition competition in Senegal.
Dr Stella Adejoh, the State Project Coordinator (SPC), FGN/IFAD-VCDP, said the programme has made significant strides in empowering youths and improving the lives of smallholder farmers in Kogi State, Nigeria.
Dr Adejoh shared the programme’s achievements and impacts in the five benefiting Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kogi State.
According to Dr. Adejoh, the programme has trained 30 youths in fabrications of equipment at the Nigerian-Korean Friendship Institute in Feline.
Additionally, youths have been trained in rice seed production, cassava stem multiplication, and value addition at institutions such as IIT Ibadan, African Rice in Badagei, and National Root Crop Research Institute, Umu Dike, Abia State.
“We have youth rice seed entrepreneurs who now supply smallholder farmers with certified rice seeds for their farming activities.
“We’ve also formed a youth network, trained them on networking, and opened one-stop shops for youths, including those living with disabilities,” Dr Adejoh said.
The programme has supported 5,832 beneficiaries, with 36% being youths, in areas such as production, good agricultural practices, and value addition.
Dr Adejoh emphasized the importance of the state government’s involvement, citing their timely payment of counterpart funding, which has enabled the programme to thrive.
“The state government has provided a robust and enabling environment for this programme.
“Kogi State is one of the states that is not owing in terms of counterpart funds,” She said.
The VCDP focuses on rice and cassava commodities, aiming to improve the income of smallholder farmers engaged in production, processing, and marketing.
The programme has three components: value addition and market linkages, productivity enhancement, and management and coordination.
In the five LGAs of Ajaokuta, Kaba-Bunu, Ibaji, Lokoja, and Olamaboro, the programme has supported farmers with market stores, rice and cassava processing centers, solar-powered boreholes, and farm inputs.
The programme has also built the capacity of farmers in good agricultural practices and provided equipment to support mechanized farming.
Dr. Adejoh highlighted the programme’s mainstreaming areas, including gender, youth, rural institutions, climate and environment, financial inclusion, and nutrition. She emphasized the programme’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers and improving their livelihoods.
End
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 11TH 2026)
