Category: Agriculture

Rainfall

By Hajara Leman

Gombe, June 24, 2024 (NAN)Some farmers in Gombe State have started moving to Taraba for cultivation of crops while others are seeking for divine intervention as the state records historic low level of rainfall.

Investigation carried out by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the state on Monday reveals that some farmers embarked on early planting despite warnings from meteorologists against such decisions.

NAN reports that farmers from Billiri, Kaltungo, Shongom, Balanga and some parts of Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Areas of the state were among those insisting in early planting.

NAN further learnt that some farmers from Gombe, Dukku and Akko council areas had yet to embark on planting.

Mr Banyula Hala, the Chairman All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Gombe State, said the low rainfall due to effect of climate change had become a cause for serious concern.

Hala said the situation might impact negatively on productivity in this year’s wet cropping season.

“The low rainfall will affect wet farming this year but since rains are from God; farmers should turn to God and be optimistic that in a week time or thereabouts, there will be more rainfall.

“Some farmers have planted while some are yet to plant; those who planted, could not get enough rainfall; so, the seed didn’t germinate as expected, and they would have to replant,” he said.

The AFAN chairman said that some of the farmers comprising Christian and Muslim faithful from the state had started organising special prayer sessions for improved rainfall.

Hala said many farmers had migrated to Taraba State because the weather was better than that of Gombe.

The AFAN chairman, therefore, advised farmers in the state to remain calm.

“As long as we are praying for rain let us be patient and see what God will do for us,” he said.

Mr Usman Adamu, the Secretary of Soyabeans Farmers and Marketers Association, Gombe State Chapter, said his members had planted their crops in Billiri, Balanga, Akko, and Kwami council areas despite the low rainfall recorded in the state.

“Since rainfall is something that is beyond the government, we must pray for rainfall, and that is what we are doing now,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim Abubakar, an extension worker with Maize Association of Nigeria (MAAN) Special Project in Gombe State, said most farmers were not ready to plant because of the low rainfall.

Abubakar said most farmers in Akko LGAs had complained that rainfall had only been witnessed once in the last one week.

“My concern is that it will affect productivity this year because farmers do not have enough water to plant as well as to apply fertilisers,” he said.

For Alhaji Usman Kabiru, a retiree who embraced farming business in Gombe, said he had migrated to Taraba State (Southern part of the state) to embark on his farming activities because of the poor rainfall in Gombe.

Kabiru said many farmers from the state had relocated to Taraba to rent farmlands and cultivate them for better yields.

He lamented the impact of climate change which he said was responsible for the rainfall pattern being witnessed in the state.

Kabiru said that the dry spell that happened last cropping season in Gombe State made most farmers to incur huge losses and were unable to get back their investments which further pushed so many farmers to Taraba in order to avoid unnecessary losses.

“With the rainfall uncertainties in Gombe, many farmers relocated to Taraba because inputs are expensive so no one wants to take the risk associated with low rainfall.

“As it is now, many farmers in Taraba south are almost ready to harvest their crops while some of their counterparts in Gombe State have yet to plant,” he said.

NAN recalls that during the inauguration of fertiliser distribution and sales for 2024 wet season on June 20, Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State urged farmers and all stakeholders to pray more for God’s intervention for more rainfall in the state.(NAN)

HUL/AOM/CJ/

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Edited by Abdullahi Mohammed and Chijioke Okoronkwo

Beans
By Mercy Omoike
Lagos, June 23, 2024 (NAN) Canteen and restaurant owners have decried the rising cost of beans as they seek Federal Government’s intervention over the staple food.

The food vendors said this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

NAN reports that in recent times the price of beans has tripled in the market nationwide.

A 40kg bag of beans, which sold for N26,000 in January, now sells for N115,000, while a 100kg bag which sold for N55,000 at the beginning of the year, now sells for N230,000 to N280,000 per bag depending on the species.

Mrs Kemi Adebayo, a restaurant owner in Alagutan, Alimosho area, lamented that food vendors are not making profit from the sale of beans owing to the price hike.

“We do not know how to do it anymore, we are just selling to be in business. We are not making profits at all. Beans has become gold.

“If there is anything the government can do to help us,  it will go a long way to help. We sell beans now for N300 per spoon.

“This is the highest we have seen since I started this cooking business. There are no alternatives to beans, we have thought of any alternative to beans. In fact, the price of all food items is on the increase.

“Even people that ask for spaghetti to mix with their rice have no choice but to buy beans. It is a necessary dietary requirement,” Adebayo said.

A trader of mashed beans locally known as ‘Ewa Agoyin’ at the Folarin area of Alimosho, Mrs Titilayo Oremeji, said they can no longer buy the produce in large quantities since the hike.

“I mainly sell beans because the locals prefer the ‘Ewa Agoyin’ delicacy but the price hike is crippling business.

“I usually buy a bag of beans for business but I can’t afford to buy it now. I just bought a few ‘derica’ to cook for my customers this morning.

“Presently,  a cup sells for as high as N1,700, we bought a derica for N500 early in January.

“I was told to go to the Agege Market, that I would get a bag of mixed species of beans at N220,000 as against N260,000 to N280,000 for the regular beans,” Oremeji said.

She noted that “food vendors have started selling beans for N200 per serving spoon, so as to break even.

“There are indeed no alternatives to beans, though to feel satisfied, some of our customers order fried plantain, yam and bread with the beans they can afford.

“We just want the government to wade into this situation and make things easy for the average Nigerian,” she said.

On her part, a cooked food trader popularly known as Iya Adetoun, at Apatira Street, Alimosho, decried the situation and how they have cut down on the volume they cook daily.

“The rising price of beans is biting hard on our business, but we have no choice but to sell as we buy.

“We have increased the price of beans per serving. Before the price hike, we used to sell a spoon at N50 but now, we sell at N200 per serving spoon.

“There are no alternatives to beans, though some customers combine their meals with spaghetti, most still insist on beans.

“We have reduced the quantity we sell because not everyone can afford the usual staple food,” she said.

A civil servant, Mrs Ada Okoye, a mother of three,  told NAN that the price of beans has become very alarming and beyond the reach of many Nigerians.

Okoye said she had to look for other alternative to beans like pigeon peas popularly known as ‘fiofio’ in Igbo.

“I had to look for other seedlings in form of beans to buy which are lesser in price, like pigeon peas.

“I do also buy beans but I have reduced the amount and frequency in cooking it so that we at least eat it,” she said.

Mrs Iyabo Bello, a mother of three, said that it has become very difficult to eat balanced diet in Nigeria.

“The hike of beans price is worrisome, owing that the commodity is one of the major source of protein that people commonly consume.

“It’s over two months that I ate beans last because of the hike in price, as my salary cannot afford extra cost because everything is costly in the market.

“Even other sources of protein are costly and people are now struggling to have balanced diet in this country,” Bello said.

She called on the Federal Government to tackle the persistent rising food inflation and food insecurity in the country to prevent imminent hunger.(NAN) www.nannews.ng
DMO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Nigeria, others yet to harness opportunities in organic agriculture –experts

Opportunity
By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Abuja, June 22, 2024 (NAN)Experts in organic agriculture have called for more concerted efforts by stakeholders for Nigeria and other West Africa countries to access enormous opportunities in organic agricultural produce and products.

They made the call in Abuja, at a two-day conference with the theme: “Development of a Harmonized Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) standard for West Africa.”

Jude Obi, President of the Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria, said the West Africa region must access its quotas from the inestimable amount of money available for organic agriculture globally.

Obi said that development of organic agriculture could comfortably address the challenge of food security and increase foreign exchange earnings, stifling the economy in the region.

He expressed concern that the African continent and West Africa were yet to scratch the surface of their own quota in organic agriculture trade.

“Now, the West Africa organic agriculture landscape is evolving, clearly evolving, but the opportunity is massive.

“The amount of money available for organic agriculture in the world is inestimable. And for us in Africa and West Africa, we are not even scratching it.

“So, this is an effort to expand the horizon, make trade easy, make people interested in organic agriculture, increase production which is very important and earn the much needed foreign exchange.

“Which is one of the things that are stifling the economy of West Africa and by extension Africa.

“It is clear that both the African continent and West Africa; they are not scratching the surface. They are not scratching the surface of their own quota in organic agriculture trade,” he said.

Obi said the essence of the conference was to ensure that organic agriculture get rooted in the region to address the challenge of food security and earn more foreign exchange in the region.

“We are gathered here importantly because organic agriculture is gaining traction in West Africa, Africa and the world. And it is not organic if it does not have guidance, if it does not have traceability.

“So, traceability is very important in organic agriculture. We are here to establish protocol for traceability in organic agriculture in West Africa.

“If we are able to achieve this, then there will be easy trade within the sub-region.

“This traceability we are talking about, we call it participatory guarantee scheme. It is the lower level of traceability simply because we have two levels of traceability.

“The first one is a third party. The second one is the participatory guarantee scheme. This participatory guarantee scheme is designed for farmers.

“Third party is expensive and organic agriculture prepares itself to bring in everybody.

“So, participatory guarantee scheme is a process through which a small farmer that doesn’t have a large quantity of money to go through a third party can still establish their traceability, have standard, have certification and be able to trade just like every other person.

`And most importantly, have premium prices because the target is premium price. So, we have gathered here to establish a protocol for a participatory guarantee scheme for the West African region,” he said.

Oyewole Gbadamosi, Coordinator of the Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative in West Africa, in his submission said that organic agriculture would enhance global trade, promotion of exports, and exportation of material among others in the region.

According to him, the conference was planned to facilitate the development of a regional standard for organic agriculture in the West African states.

“It is aimed to create a short supply chain for product movements across the member states and we are gathered here to do exactly that,” he said.

He said that the conference would among others address the issue of verification in terms of the quality of things that are produced organically.

“We have had many products labeled organic and which are not. I have also had different regulations which have not been followed particularly in some West African states, where we do have regulations on organic agriculture.

“So this particular workshop is to provide the working documents for certification and reference label for organic products and to serve as a value addition for the organic product and to increase the credibility of the products while moving across the region.

“We are expecting that this can be a giant stride for the development of organic agriculture in the region, while working hard to see that we are able to even leverage on some of the other important things that this particular initiative brings.”

Dr. Kofi Emanuel, Programme Officer of Rural Development and Land Government at the ECOWAS Commission, Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, said development of organic agriculture would address the challenge of food security in the region.

Emmanuel, who is also the Chairman of the Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative, Secretariat in West Africa, stressed the need for harmonisation of standards across member states.

“I cannot say that there is no standard. There are standards in the member states. People are producing organic products but for free trade across our member states.

“We need to harmonize these standards. That is why we are doing this now. We are working.

“You know, our agriculture, if you compare our practice to other countries as in other continents, we can say that we are seeing the area of Ecological Organic Agriculture because we use less of our fertilizers.

“The chemical fertilizers are very less. We are about 18 to 24 kilograms per hectare. Even compared to those of Asia who are 300 kilograms, more than 320 kilograms per hectare.

“Our agriculture is still ecological and organic. It feeds its population. So we need to have the label, we need the standard for it,” he said.

He equally harped on the need for access to technology, sharing of information, research and develop capacity of our farmers for the development of the sector.

“So, the capacity building issue is very important for our farmers and our organization. We need certification. It’s very important.

“If you go to the market, your products are not certified. If you didn’t have a label on your products, it cannot make visibility of that. So it’s very important to do all these processes,” he said.

He agreed that organic agriculture might not be able to feed the entire population in the region but can contribute significantly in feeding them.

“Organic agriculture can contribute to feed this population; can contribute to produce and taking into account our soil health.

“But we cannot feed all our population through only organic agriculture. We need to manage, taking into account the necessity to preserve the fertility of our soil and to tackle all the challenges we have to face,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
OBE/IAA
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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

LASG
By Mercy Omoike
Lagos, June 21, 2024 (NAN) The Lagos State Government has tasked all heads of agriculture and social services across its 57 local councils on improved agriculture practices to tackle food shortage in the state.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-olu on Rural Development, Dr Nurudeen Agbaje, gave the charge at an interactive session held at the ministry in Alausa, Ikeja.

He reiterated that the food shortage in the state was a result of few people venturing into agriculture.
Agbaje also harped on the importance of agricultural revolution in the state, noting that the agricultural sector can only be improved and enhanced when adequate attention is given to it at the grassroots.
Hence the need for Heads of Agricultural Departments at the Councils to equip farmers in the communities with requisite skills needed for farming all year round.
He disclosed that the state government would continue to invest and improve agriculture sector to tackle the dearth of food production and distribution in Lagos.
He enjoined the participants to engage farmers in their domain to identify areas where government can come in to help increase agric production.

Agbaje noted that the goal of achieving food security in the state is a collective responsibility of all stakeholders, urging everyone to partner with the agriculture sector to fight food shortage in the state.
Also, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, commended the HODs for ensuring that the efforts of the governor in cascading development to rural farmers was achieved.

Bolarinwa was represented at the event by the Director, Rural Agriculture, Mrs Tawakaltu Kosoko.

She reiterated that the interactive session was a move by the state government to foster agriculture development across the state, especially at the grassroots.

Bolarinwa revealed that there would be subsequent meetings targeted toward equipping rural farmers on improved methods and tools that would engender increase in agriculture productivity amongst farmers in these communities.

Responding, Mr Rasheed Bada, the Chairman, Body of Heads of the Department of Agric. & Social Services, applauded Sanwo-Olu’s administration for ensuring that the Office of Rural Development in the Ministry becomes a rallying point where rural farmers across the state can access information and opportunities that would help improve agriculture production.

Bada said the body would continue to work in tandem with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Plus Agenda of Lagos State until the dream of making Lagos State a 21st Century economy is achieved. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
DMO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

FG allocates 2,000 tonnes of fertiliser to Gombe farmers

Support
By Hajara Leman
Gombe, June 20, 2024(NAN) The Federal Government has allocated 2,000 tonnes of fertiliser to support farmers in Gombe State during the 2024 farming season.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya stated this in Gombe on Thursday during the inauguration of fertiliser sale and distribution for the 2024 cropping season in the state.

Yahaya said that attaining food security could only be achieved when farmers are supported with fertilisers and improved inputs.

He added that the state government, in addition to the 2,000 tonnes provided by the Federal government, had procured another 2,000 tonnes of assorted fertiliser, making a total of 4,000 tonnes to support farmers.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for supporting the state government  toward supporting farmers and boosting food security.

He said the Federal Government allocation would be sold directly to farmers, while the remaining 2,000 tonnes would be sold through cooperative societies under which farmers would have the option to repay the government through their harvest.

“This will ensure equitable and fair access to fertiliser by all and sundry, thus guaranteeing optimum price for farm produce and enhanced food security in Gombe State and Nigeria at large,” he added.

The governor explained that a discount of 50 per cent had been granted to all farmers, noting that “a 50-kg bag of NPK fertiliser cost N22,000 and will be delivered to all the 114 political wards.

“We shall ensure that the fertiliser reaches the grassroots by strengthening the sale monitoring system so that the commodity reaches genuine beneficiaries.”

According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, security agencies, and civil society organisations have been directed to closely monitor sales of fertilisers to farmers.

Mr Barnabas Malle, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, commended the state government for supporting farmers with subsidised fertilisers and inputs in the last five years.

Malle said the fertilisers would assist farmers to cultivate more to boost productivity and food security.

He said measures had been put in place to ensure that the distribution and sale of the commodity was not sabotaged, adding that the exercise would be monitored closely by his ministry.

While also commending the state government for releasing funds for this year’s annual vaccination against trans-boundary animal diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Anthrax, he said the exercise would soon be inaugurated.

According to him, the vaccines have been received from the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Jos.

He enjoined youths to embrace agriculture to reduce unemployment.

In his goodwill message, Malam Ibrahim Bomai, the Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in Gombe State, commended the governor “for providing quality fertiliser in time for Gombe farmers, which will guarantee good yield and enhance food security.”

Bomai said the Federal Government had been supporting farmers in the state, assuring that President Tinubu’s administration remained committed to boosting food security in the country.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
HUL/HA

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

We’re committed to food security -Aiyedatiwa

Food

By Segun Giwa

Akure,June 20, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State says his administration is committed to food security and welfare of the people of the state.

Aiyedatiwa stated this during the flag-off of the second phase of distribution of palliatives and farm implements to beneficiaries in Akure on Thursday.

The governor said that the initiative was in line with the government’s plan and commitment to ensure food security and stabilty in the  state, especially in view of the challenges occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

Aiyedatiwa appealed to traders and other service providers to shun exploitative practices, adding that there was a need for empathy and compassion in business dealings.

He said that the government had constituted  an Agriculture and Food Security Committee in combating food insecurity,  lauding their previous successes and ongoing efforts.

The governor said that the second phase of the palliatives entails distribution of 24,000 bags of rice, 14,040 bags of maize, 3,440 bags of garri.

“Others are over 170 farm tricycles, tillers and Canoes – implements, aimed at benefiting various groups across the state,” he said.

The governor assured the people of more welfare packages and stressed the need to leverage on local resources for agricultural production.

“Our administration is undoubtedly committed to regular interventions and activities towards alleviating sufferings, hunger and ensuring massive availability of food supply in the state.

“I call on us all to refrain from shylock tendencies to exploit others, not minding the implication of such actions on the economy and people’s welfare.

“Specifically, I call on our Iya-lojas,
Baba-lajes, farmers associations, transport management bodies and all other production and trade organisations in Ondo State and Nigeria at large.

“They should encourage their members, to start bringing down prices of food, goods and services,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa also thanked all agricultural stakeholders for their support and expressed confidence that collaborative efforts would improve Ondo State and Nigeria.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Olayato Aribo, said that food security was one of the primary responsibilities of governments.

He urged beneficiaries to use the distributed items judiciously, adding that the distribution would continue and reach all local governments, farmers, and individuals. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

GSD/AYO/AOS

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Edited by Ayodeji Alabi/Bayo Sekoni

Inputs
By Isaiah Eka
Uyo, June 20, 2024 (NAN) Akwa Ibom Government has commenced distribution of farm inputs to farmers group and cooperative societies in the state, as part of measures to boost food production.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the distribution of the items was flagged off by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Offiong Offor in Uyo on Thursday.
Offor, while addressing farmers and other stakeholders during the exercise, reiterated government’s resolve to support different categories of farmers in the state.
“We have already distributed inputs to some groups during the official flag-off of the first planting season.
“Government will reach out to more groups in order to boost food production.
“Farmers will be supported with agricultural machinery to aid land preparation for farming, farm inputs, agro-chemicals and access to finance, for the overall aim of expanding farming activities,” he said.
Offor stated that the ministry had deployed extension agents to each of the benefiting cooperative societies, schools and farming groups to offer technical support, monitor and evaluate progress.
She urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items to enhance food sufficiency in the state.
The commissioner commended members of Women Agro-Link International Foundation (WALIF) for being passionate about agriculture.
She said that that her visit to the farm owned by the group and other groups was an indication that they were taking agriculture seriously.
According to her, the exercise is a fulfillment of government’s determination to equip farmers with improved farm inputs for better yields.
Offor urged the farmers to be focused on proper cultivation of the inputs in order to reduce the current high cost of food in the country.
The commissioner warned the beneficiaries against selling the inputs, stressing that anyone caught in such act would be penalised.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, Mr Bassey Enwang, thanked the government for supporting farmers from time to time.
Enwang pledged to ensure maximum utilisation of the farm inputs provided by the state government.
Leader of Women Agro-Link International Foundation, (WALIF), Mrs Theresa Akpan, said that the group was massively cultivating its 60 hectares of farmland at Oruk Anam Local Government Area of the state.
Akpan commended the state government for supporting farmers with inputs, saying that they would help in boosting food production in the state.
NAN reports that the farm inputs distributed to the cooperative groups included: improved cassava cuttings, coconut seedlings, raised pepper seedlings and agro-chemicals. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
IE/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq

Ododo disburses N370m community revolving loan to farmers in Kogi

Loan

By Stephen Adeleye

Lokoja, June 19, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi on Wednesday disbursed N370 million Community Revolving Fund (CRF), to farmers to boost food production in the North-Central State

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the CRF loan disbursement is in partnership with the World Bank under the ACReSAL project.

A total of 208 farmers spread across 10 clusters in two catchment areas benefited from the CRF loan in the Pilot Phase I.

Each cluster got 25,000 USD (N37m), out of the 250,000 USD (N370m) shared.

The 208 beneficiaries, 70 per cent of whom are women, got N1.77m each.

Ododo, who inaugurated the disbursement at the Government House, Lokoja, said the scheme was a proactive initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of climate change.

It is also to support community agricultural efforts, he added.

The governor disclosed that the second phase of the CRF loan disbursement would come up in August.

He appreciated all stakeholders involved in the project and emphasised his administration’s commitment to agricultural development.

According to him, within his five months in office, his administration had implemented various initiatives to enhance agricultural productivity.

The initiatives, he said, included the provision of agricultural machineries for mechanisation, agricultural inputs, training and capacity building for farmers, among others.

The governor urged the CRF beneficiaries to utilise the loan judiciously, stressing that it was designed to support their agricultural endeavours and improve their livelihoods.

Ododo expressed confidence that the loan would boost agricultural practices in the catchment areas, leading to increased food production and security.

“It is expected that the funds would be utilised for activities under climate smart agriculture and related agricultural value chain, just as you have been trained.

“I implore you to pay back the loans as at when due, to enable others benefit from the fund because it is a revolving loan.

“I assure you all that our administration will continue to collaborate with global partners to provide resources and support that could cushion the attendant effect of climate change and tackle poverty.

“We are not oblivious of the fact that our farmers need security in order to farm effectively. To this end, we have mapped out our security plan to protect our farmers and their farmlands.

“Our administration has developed a template for farmlands security by employing local hunters and vigilante men and women to provide adequate security at all times.

“We have also activated our security rapid response capacity to distress calls from farmers and others

“Adequate security gadgets and patrol vehicles have been provided across the 21 Local Government Areas(LGAs) of the state.

“We have strengthened the capacity of LGAs to ensure community policing. We won’t complain and run to Abuja, we are providing solutions here in Kogi.

“Local Government Chairmen, community leaders, security agencies are all our critical partners in ensuring the success of this all important, poverty-defeating scheme.

“There are pointers to the fact that our efforts in the area of community policing is already yielding fruits,” Ododo said.

Earlier, the Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly, Mr Umar Yusuf, had emphasised the importance of partnership for progress as highlighted in the 17 thematic areas of the SDGs.

The speaker commended the governor for his leadership and commitment to the development of the state.

Also, State Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Ladi Jatto, commended the governor for his  commitment to the success of the project in the state.

Jatto stressed that the governor had made it easy for the people of Kogi to take advantage of the project.

In their remarks, Messrs Asiwaju Idris and Olusegun Joseph, finance and environment commissioners respectively, thanked the governor for paying due attention to the plight of the rural poor.

The Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, and the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani-Anaje, commended the governor for his efforts at supporting the agricultural sector.

They urged the beneficiaries to ensure timely repayment of the loan to ensure the sustainability of the project. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
ASA/TYC/ETS

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Edited by Thompson Yamput and Ephraims Sheyin