Nasarawa Farmers Demand VCDP’s Sustainability 

Farmers in Nasarawa State who are beneficiaries of the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP)—a federal government initiative in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)—have called for its continued implementation.

The farmers acknowledged the programme’s significant impact on their livelihoods and emphasised that sustaining it would greatly enhance the economic well-being of many households, particularly small-scale farmers.

During the flag-off ceremony for distributing inputs and farm equipment to farmers from five local government areas—Doma, Karu, Wamba, Lafia, and Nasarawa—representatives of the beneficiaries described the initiative as transformative.

“This programme has greatly impacted the lives of beneficiaries, and we are eternally grateful to all those who made it possible. We appeal for its continuation so that more farmers can benefit,” one of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Oyoya, said.

The former Nasarawa State commissioner for finance, budget, and economic planning, Hajiya Munirat Abdullahi, emphasised the state’s commitment to the VCDP through prompt payment of counterpart funds.

She said the state government had contributed over ₦170 million as counterpart funding for implementing the 2023 and 2024 VCDP initiatives.

Abdullahi noted that the programme has boosted agricultural production and aligned with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s agenda of ensuring sustainable food security in the country. She added that it also generates employment opportunities for youth while alleviating poverty, starvation, and hunger.

Our correspondent reports that the VCDP aims to enhance poor rural households’ incomes and food security by supporting sustainable production, processing, and marketing of rice and cassava.