Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Community Engagement, Abiodun O. Eset has urged Nigerians to key into the present administration’s agricultural revolution.
The Senior Special Assistant who described agriculture as the main stream of Nigeria’s economy and food security, gave an assurance that the Tinubu’s led-administration will accord priority to the development of the agricultural sector.
Eset made the call while speaking during the Maiden Commodity Fair and Interactive Events for Value Chain Operators where the Kogi State Government displayed a show exhibition/networking in Lokoja recently.
He enjoined farmers across the country to support the government in its intervention to boost food sufficiency in Nigeria.
The Commodity Fair with its theme” ‘Celebrating the resilience and roles of smallholder farmers in sustaining food security in Nigeria’ brought participants from pilot states of the federation.
The Senior Special Assistant challenged local farmers and processors of rice, and Cassava Value Chain in the federation to brace up to improve on their livelihood.
She disclosed that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), International Fund for Agriculture Development( IFAD)Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) are three components of intervention for Agriculture Development Programme in the country.
Abiodu commended the state government and the Coordinator of the VCDP in the state, Dr. Stella Adejoh for her commitment towards FGN/ IFAD and VCDP Agriculture Programme in the state.
Earlier, the National Programme Coordinator of the FGN, International Fund for Agricultural Development and Value Chain Development Programme, Dr. Fatima Aliyu represented by Baba Yakubu said Governor Yahaya Bello has continued to live up to expectations by paying counterpart contributions to enable agriculture to strive for the benefits of farmers in Kogi State.
Dr. Fatima maintained that Value Chain Development Programme Coordinator in Kogi State, Dr. Stella Adejoh for the past two years has impacted positively on the lives of rural farmers. She urged her not to relent in her efforts to boost food production in the state.
In her remarks, the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Ayoade Arike, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet, Mallam Sule Taku, said the government would continue to do its best to encourage farmers in ensuring availability of food for all citizens.
Declaring the programme open, the Commissioner of Agriculture, Mr Timothy Ojoma, reiterated the commitment of Governor Yahaya Bello to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the rural farmers. He added that necessary farm inputs would be provided to boost agriculture development in the state.
Earlier, the State Coordinator of the VCDP, Dr. Stella Adejoh said the FGN/ IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP, has its goal to reduce rural poverty, increase food security and accelerate economic growth on a sustainable basis.
