From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi government said it has set aside 30,000 hectares of land for farming activities in the state to boost food production.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Timothy Ojomah disclosed this in a chat with DAILY ASSET in Lokoja.

Ojomah said that the hectares of  land would be allocated to farmers to ensure all year-round farming activities in the state.

He said the government had allocated 8,000 hectares in 2024, and decided to increase the size to 30,000 hectares to ensure massive food production and food security in the state.

The commissioner said: “the result of last year is obvious, given the records from  the Bureau of Statistics.

“The prices of food items have reduced drastically in the state compared to what we experienced in 2024.

“Kogi stands at the bottom now in the ranking of states with high cost of food items.

“We used to be at the top in the ranking, however, the massive increase in food production is already changing the narrative.

“We are scaling up what we did last year and the farmers are already motivated by the intervention from  government.

“We have already received more than 60,000 requests for the 30,000 hectares earmarked, which speaks about the enthusiasm and motivation of the farmers.

“More people are embracing farming in the state and looking forward to how the government can help them to improve food production.”

Ojomah also disclosed that the state government had birthed a special concept of Free Trade Zones and signed  agreement with some group of Chinese companies and the World Bank to set  up industries that could process its farm produce.

He also said that Gov. Ahmed Ododo recently approved a three months smart agriculture training for 50 youths  from the state.

“When they return, they will equally train others to ensure that the state derived the desired benefits of the value chain in agriculture –  processing, packaging, and exporting of our products.

“As we speak, arrangements are being  concluded to expand the Omi Dam for production of 4,000 hectares of rice that can feed our rice mill (Alape Rice Mill), ” he said.

Ojomah, said the Gov. Ododo led  government was partnering with Silvex International to set up a very large rice farm in the area.

“Silvex International is an experienced company in rice production, processing, and export.

“With the dam in the area, we are going to have full mechanised farming and all year-round rice farming,”he said.

The commissioner appreciated the governor’s foresight in developing the agricultural sector to enhance food production in the state.

“The governor  has pledged that Kogi state will be vast in food production, ” he said

Ms Surah Animashaun, the Chairperson, Epe Local Government, has empowered 200 farmers with cash and other agricultural inputs to boost food production in the area.

Animashaun distributed the agricultural inputs to the beneficiaries at the council secretariat in Epe on Thursday in Lagos.

She said the initiative was aimed at supporting farmers in order to boost food production in the various communities of the council.

Animashaun said the farmers who benefitted from the gesture are expected to be considerate in their price fixing after harvest to ensure the affordability of food for all Nigerians.

“With the economic situation now and the support being giving to you, farmers should be reasonable in fixing prices after harvest to ensure that ordinary Nigerians source food at a more convenient price nationwide.

“We are here to give you support for your farming activities today, we expect that you reciprocate tomorrow by selling at a more affordable price to the people tomorrow,’’ she said.

Animashaun explained that each of the benefiting farmers received N50,000 and essential grains such as maize and sorghum.

She said the council would continue to support the farmers for them to be strong in farming activities.

Animashaun also used the medium to highlight her administration’s ongoing efforts in the extension of palliatives to other sectors of the economy.

She urged the communities in the area to maintain harmony, love, hospitality, and compassion, particularly in the face of the present economic challenges.

Also speaking, Mr Sikiru Owolomoshe, the Vice Chairman of the council, urged the farmers to take advantage of the gesture to improve their activities in order to encourage others.

Mr Olayinka Kazeem, the Secretary of Epe Farmers and a beneficiary, expressed gratitude to the council chairperson and her management.

“This is the first time we are witnessing this kind of programme and it is coming at a critical period when many states are facing food shortage,’’ he said.

He assured that the beneficiaries would do their best to ensure the objective was achieved.

Mr Ahmed Surakat, the Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Fishermen Cooperative Association, and Mrs Kafilat Animashahun beneficiaries, extended their gratitude to the council chairman for her unwavering support to farmers.

Earlier, the President of the Epe Farmers Union, Mrs Aminat Shabi, lauded Animashaun for the comprehensive support to other agricultural value chain such as fish farmers and livestock producers.(NAN)

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja 

The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has been described as an appropriate and very effective means of realising food sufficiency and security across the country.

The National Coordinator of RAAMP, Engr Aminu Bodinga Mohammed who made the assertion  during the 7th Joint World Bank and French Development Agency Implementation Support Mission of RAAMP at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, pointing out that most urban centers derive their supply of food from farms, which are located at the rural communities.

His words: “the primary objective of RAAMP is to improve rural roads and trading infrastructure through to boost food production.

He solicited for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to ensure an all-round success of the project.

Aminu noted that the mission was to evaluate the current implementation status, milestones as well as challenges faced by the 19  states participating in the project and announced that arrangements had reached an advanced stage for the commencement of civil works on agro-logistics centers (ALCs) latest by September, 2024 with 23 major contracts that would be awarded across the states.

ALCs refer to market hubs that have been prioritised for transformation to ultra-modern standards at various locations across the country , notably in rural communities to empower and enhance the livelihoods of the people.

Also speaking, the Task Team Leader of the World Bank,  Mr. Rakeesh Tripathi hinted that a scale-up was being mooted for the project but emphasized that only states which must have  established and operationalised the Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF), backed up with the required standing on counterpart funds would be eligible to access the scale-up funds. 

He therefore advised all states to take advantage of the mission and get the needed support to tackle every challenge facing their State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), adding that all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would be encouraged to embrace the scale-up project.

Highpoints of the exercise were presentations by the State Project Coordinators of the respective participating states, question and answer sessions, comments and observations, among other inputs by the stakeholders.

The Task Team Leader of the French Development Agency, AFD; Consultants from the World Bank; the Federal Project Management Unit, FPMU as well as State Project Implementation Units, SPIUs of RAAMP also attended the mission.