Over 18,000 farmers have been directly empowered under the Federal Government and Ogun State Government (International Fund For Agricultural Development (IFAD) Assisted) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP).
The Acting State Coordinator of the Programme, Mrs. Abiola Adewole-Sobukola, disclosed this to Journalist in company of the VCDP knowledge Management and Communication Officer, Ibikunle Faneye, in Abeokuta after a 2 day tour of facilities provided for farmers under the scheme in Ijebu-East, Ijebu North- East, Odeda and Yewa North, saying the interventions extended beyond farmers to the communities at large.
She explained that various interventions under the programme such as; training on best agronomic practices, subsidised inputs ,introduction of improved varieties of rice and cassava, processing centers, matching grant support, construction of solar powered boreholes, culverts , bridges as well as markets stalls had drastically reduce the cost of production of cassava and stabilised food prices in the market.
“This initiative is designed to sustainably enhance the incomes and food security of poor, rural households who are engaged in production, processing and marketing of cassava and rice across targeted Local government areas of the State,” she said.
According to her, cassava yield under the Programme had risen from an average of 8 – 12 metric tonnes per hectare to between 25 and 35 metric tonnes stressing that the programme was designed in such a way to ensure that farmers, processors , off-takers all reap the benefits of their efforts.
Speaking during the tour in Atan, Chairman, Ijebu North-East Local Government, Hon. Badejo Foluso, commended the initiative, describing it as a life-changing intervention with significant impact on the people’s livelihood.
At Odeda, the Secretary Mutual Success Cassava Processing cluster, Mr. Yusuf Kazeem, noted that the cassava processing center, solar powered borehole and culvert provided by the Programme had greatly reduced the stress farmers usually face in processing cassava.
Similarly, Managing Director, Ayeroro VCDP Cassava Processing Factory in Yewa North Local Government, Elder Eweoba Timothy, affirmed that farmer’s productivity and income had increased substantially as a result of the processing center and solar powered borehole in the area.
