Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has to appealed to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to add to the five participating local governments in its value chain development programme (VCDP) in the state.
The Governor made the appeal when he played host to the VCDP supervision team in Lokoja on Wednesday.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Edward Onoja, the Governor applauded the team for including the state as one of the three new benefitting states in the country.
Dr. Onoja assured the team that Kogi would justify its inclusion, adding that the administration had earlier carried out needs Assessment for the 21 LGAs of the state upon assumption of office and understand that the women and youths in rural areas have shown capacity to add value to agriculture to earn more income and turn around the agricultural sector of the state for the better.
He also noted that rural roads stretching at the least, 20 kilometers should be included in the program to network rural farmers to their respective markets in the LGAs.
While assuring them that security of lives and property was sacrosanct because the New Direction administration has invested so much in the sector, he highlighted how the state has continued to blaze trails in financial discipline, prudence and transparency, saying Kogi has continued to win awards in that aspect.
He thanked the team for their commitment and assured them of the preparedness of the government to give them necessary support at all times.
Earlier in her address, the head of the delegation, Ms Mariatu Kamara applauded the state government for its support since its inclusion, and appealed for continued support to ensure it continued to benefit rural farmers especially women and youth.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief David Apeh, described the commitment of Governor Yahaya Bello to developing the sector as exemplary.
Present at the occasion were Commissioners for Finance, Rural Development, Youths and Sports and other government functionaries.
