IFAD-VCDP injects $68.9m into Nigerian economy
The Value Chain Development Programme of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD-VCDP) has injected 68.9 million US dollars into the Nigerian economy.
Ms. Mariatu Kamara, IFAD Programme Officer, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at the 2018 National Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF).
She said the engagement of privatesector players by IFAD-VCDP through the CAF initiative had resulted in the production of 140,000 tonnes of rice and 30,000 tonnes of cassava annually, generating about 68.9 million dollars as revenue.
Kamara said in Benue State alone, 25,000 tonnes of rice and cassava were produced, while about nine million dollars was realised.
She said CAF had been a success story, adding that government should, therefore, replicate the programme in other parts of the country, apart from Benue, Taraba, Ogun, Anambra, Kebbi, Nasarawa and Niger states that were currently participating in the IFADVCDP.
Kamara pledged that IFAD would continue to provide relevant support for the government and citizens of Nigerian to engender the development of rural communities.
Speaking, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, commended the achievements of the CAF initiative, describing the programme as a boost to the Federal Government’s agricultural promotion policy.
“The VCDP partnership with OLAM under the CAF initiative has attracted global attention.
“I urge other states to understand CAF and liaise with VCDP to replicate the successful model in their states,’’ he said.
Lokpobiri, who was represented by Mrs Eniye Ambakederemo, his Special Technical Adviser Agric-Business, said the initiative had enhanced the rice revolution scheme in the country, while strengthening efforts to achieve food security.
He said the Federal Government was determined to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production and completely put an end to rice importation.
Lokpobiri said as part of efforts to achieve quality rice processing in the country, government had procured 10 giant rice processing mills worth N10 billion.
He said that the mills would be installed in Bayelsa and nine other states.
Dr Ahmed Onoja, National Programme Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, said that IFAD-VCDP had been invited by UN ECOSCO to participate in the 2018 SDGs Investment Fair in New York to share its experience regarding the Public Private Producer Partnership (4Ps model) with Olam.
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the United Nations’ central platform for reflection, debate and innovative thinking on sustainable development.
Onoja said the adoption of 4Ps model had doubled farmers’ income, while creating a reliable structure for sustainable supply of raw materials to processors.
He said so far, 1,725 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) had been signed with off-takers in the six participating states, while 410 contractual agreements had been formalised, with more than 35,000 farmers linked to off-takers.
The VCDP is a six-year project of the Federal Government which is funded by IFAD. (NAN)