• Receives Documents of Annual Report and Workplan of the Project
Kogi State Deputy Governor and Chairman, State Steering Committee of The Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Support (APPEALS) Project in the State, Chief (Dr.) Edward Onoja has reiterated the readiness of Government to improve value addition along priority chains as well as create more access to financial institutions and business services that would enhance agricultural productivity of small and medium scale farmers in the State.
Chief Onoja gave the assurance when he hosted Steering Committee members of the Project, led by Project Coordinator– Dr. Sanni Abdullahi Ozomata, in his office in Lokoja on Thursday for a Review of the Annual Workplan and Implementation programs of the Project.
In his address, Chief Onoja, who is Chairman of the Steering Committee in the State praised the Team headed by Dr. Ozomata for its diligence and commitment to the vision and goals of the Green Alternative Project which, according to him, have received global and local commendation from the World Bank, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other critical stakeholders, respectively.
He insisted that the lofty economic reforms by His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello on support policy thrust on food security, local production, job creation and economic diversification have been tremendous through deliberate feasibility studies on market information for Rice, Cashew and Cassava value chains across the 21 Local Government Areas of the State.
He admonished the Team to double its efforts in breaking newer grounds to attain greater exploits floated on agricultural transformation blueprint of Governor Bello on other produce such as cocoyam, melon, maize, sorghum, cowpea, benniseed, oil palm, fish, poultry and animal husbandry for subsistence and commercial purposes.
Earlier, Monetary and Evaluation Officer of the Project in the State, Mrs. Olukotun Gladys said the Implementation Project which commenced October, 2018, has since been efficient in leveraging the advantages of the agricultural sector and food production policy.
Asides its contribution to the national value chain and collaboration with agro-related agencies and institutes for improved productivity, she said the 2021 schedule of events would deepen efforts to offer grants for women and youths as well as people living with disabilities and community development projects for identified clusters. She added that with the relevant data collated in the year under review, the Project would bridge the gap in demand, organise the market situations, create a market information kiosk for farmers and enable them gain access to improved technology, henceforth.
On his part, Dr. Ozomata while thanking Governor Bello and his Deputy, Chief Onoja for their support since the inception of the Project in State, said it was since becoming the best in the North Central region. He disclosed that the Project would also seek out improved land preparation, digital technology, use of improved threshers, varieties, investment plans, training, capacity building, product management schemes and hinged on identification of 3,100 farmers and 6,200 hecters in the coming months.
Present at the meeting were the State Commissioners for Agriculture, Commerce and Industry as well as their Women Affairs and Social Development counterpart. Also part of the guests were the Acting Permanent Secretary, Director, State Ministry of Agriculture, among others.
Promise Emmanuel
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kogi State.
04/03/2021.