Farmers under the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP-AF) in Kogi State have celebrated a bumper dry season rice harvest, thanks to the programme’s support.
The farmers, who cultivated rice on various hectares of farmland, appreciated Kogi VCDP for providing them with essential farm inputs, including improved rice seeds, fertiliser, harvesting equipment, and capacity-building training.
The farmers attributed their success to the support they received from the VCDP, which included training on good agronomic practices and the provision of critical farm inputs.
Speaking to journalists at Magajiya Ijiho Cluster rice farmland at Ijiho community in Lokoja, a beneficiary, Sule Mohammed, thanked the Kogi VCDP for the intervention, which he said had increased their yield.
According to him, the dry season rice harvest has brought joy to VCDP farmers in Kogi State because they have witnessed a significant increase in their rice yield.
“As VCDP farmers in Kogi State, we have every reason to celebrate, having witnessed a remarkable increase in our dry season rice harvest.
“The variety of improved rice seeds given to us with fertiliser and training has greatly improved our yield.
“Our old seeds always take about five to six months before harvest, but now we are done with the improved seeds in three months.
“We thank God. With Kogi VCDP intervention, we now have lock-up shops to keep and preserve our products for sale to the processors.
Another farmer, Mohammed Musa, said Kogi VCDP support was instrumental in their bumper harvest in this dry season.
“In the dry season, there is rest of mind about our planting, unlike the rainy season when flood can submerge the whole farm overnight.
“Our livelihoods have improved tremendously through Kogi VCDP inputs’ support, enlightenment and training.
“It has helped us to improve our farm yield up to four times the previous harvest that we used to get, and it has improved our well-being and livelihoods,” Musa said.
Another farmer, Sadiyat Umar, said the bumper harvest had helped them improve their standards of living despite the country’s economic hardships.
“We thank VCDP for providing us with improved rice seeds (Faro 44), fertilisers, agrochemicals, harvesters, reapers, pumping machines, and other essential farm inputs.
“We are grateful to the VCDP for this bumper harvest we are reaping now on our farms,” Umar said.
The farmers recognised the importance of continuous training and support in maintaining and improving their rice yield.
Therefore, they appealed to the VCDP and the Kogi State government for more support and training to enhance their capacity and adopt the best agronomic practices.
“We appreciate what Kogi VCDP and the state government have been doing for us, but we still need more support. We need more equipment, input, and subsidised chemicals,” Mohammed said.
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