By Stephen Adeleye.
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the International Fund for Agricultural Development/Value Chain Development Programme (IFAD-VCDP), has distributed 33 cargo tricycles to rice and cassava farmers across five Local Government Areas in Kogi State to ease the challenge of produce transportation and enhance agricultural productivity.
The distribution which took place at Kogi IFAD-VCDP VCDP office in Lokoja, had beneficiaries from Ajaokuta, Ibaji, Kabba-Bunu, Lokoja, and Olamaboro Local Government Areas.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, described the intervention as a major milestone that aligns with Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo’s vision of making Kogi a leading hub for agricultural production in Nigeria.
Ojomah commended the State Project Coordinator of Kogi IFAD-VCDP, and her team for working diligently in line with the directive of the State Government to ensure value-driven agricultural support reaches farmers who need it most.
The Commissioner noted that beyond tricycles, the State in collaboration with IFAD-VCDP has distributed several farm inputs, improved crop seedlings, processing equipment, and other empowerment tools in recent months.
He appealed to the programme financiers to extend the intervention beyond the current five Local Government Areas and to prolong the duration of the project to enable more farmers benefit.
Ojomah congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to maximize the economic potential of the tricycles:
“Many people earn a living from the use of cargo tricycles. I want you to take this as an opportunity not only to reduce your transportation costs but also to expand your income streams,” he advised.
He urged the beneficiaries to continue supporting the present administration and assured that the Ministry will continue to deliver development-oriented programmes for the good of the people.
The State Project Coordinator of IFAD-VCDP, Dr Stella Adejoh, explained that the tricycles were procured under a joint funding arrangement where farmers contributed 30% of the cost while IFAD-VCDP provided the remaining 70%.
According to her, the initiative was a response to persistent pressure from farmers who had consistently raised concerns about the high cost and difficulty of transporting produce from farm sites to processing and market points.
“We procured 33 tricycles in collaboration with the farmers. They paid 30 percent while we paid 70 percent. This intervention is aimed at easing transportation challenges and reducing post-harvest losses among our rice and cassava farmers,” she stated.
Dr Adejoh added that the provision of the tricycles will significantly boost productivity and income, particularly for women and youth farmers who often face mobility limitations.
Some of the beneficiaries Mrs Ikojo Ojomakocho from Olamaboro, Daniel Ameh from Ibaji; Abiodun Alonge from Kabba-Bunu; Raji Basiru from Ajaokuta, all expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, IFAD-VCDP, and the Kogi State Government for the gesture.
They described the gesture as timely, noting that it will reduce the stress and cost of conveying produce from farm to markets and processing centers.
They also acknowledged previous support provided by IFAD-VCDP such as processing machinery, improved planting materials, and farmer group capacity-building programmes.
“This tricycle will save us money and make our work easier. We will make good use of it and maintain it well to achieve the goals of the project,” Alonge said.
The distribution marks another step in strengthening agricultural value chains in Kogi State, improving food security, and boosting rural economic development through farmer-centered interventions and sustainable livelihoods support.
