IFAD to empower 3,000 farmers in Ogun on cassava, rice production

The International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and Ogun Government are collaborating to assist no fewer than 3,000 farmers on Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for rice and cassava production.

Mr Samuel Adeogun, the state coordinator of VCDP/IFAD Programme, made this known when he inspected 30 hectares of land at Otete in Yewa North Local Government Area of the state.

Adeogun said that rice and cassava production would cut across 4,000 hectares of land in the state.

He noted that in 2016 only 1,800 hectares of land was cultivated by 1, 200 farmers.

“The VCDP is a programme that adds value to the process of food production, and we are determined to train and empower more farmers in the state.

“This will in turn improve food production and farmers’ living standard,” Adeogun said.

He added that the programme had presence in five local government areas of the state and would train farmers on best agricultural practices.

Adeogun called on farmers in the state to make themselves available for the IFAD value chain development programme.

Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Peju Adebajo, said that the government was focused on agricultural development.

He added that the government would ensure that the VCDP was replicated in other local government areas of the state.

Adebajo said that the state ministry of agriculture would collaborate with farmers to take advantage of the programme.

Mr James Arigbajo, Chairman, Ifesowapo Group of Farmers in Otete, said that the programme trained the farmers on how to improve production and add value to it.

Arigbajo appealed to the state government to make more farm implements available to farmers.