Kogi State Seeks Agriculture Project Support From World Bank

The Kogi State Government has appealed to the World Bank to initiate another agricultural programme similar to its assisted Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project to remove more farmers in the state from the poverty line.

Specifically, the state Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja, made the appeal during the 8th Implementation Support Mission visit to APPEALS project in the state by a task team of the World Bank and officials of the national coordinating office of the project in Lokoja.

Onoja, chairman the steering committee of APPEALS project in Kogi state, explained that the visit was aimed at assessing the performance and achievements of the project in all the participating states across the country as the project is scheduled to wind up in September 2023.

The Kogi deputy governor stressed that because of the large impact made by the APPEALS project in the state, it was imperative for the World Bank to conceive another viable agricultural programme similar to the APPEALS project to serve as an encouragement for more youth and women participation in agriculture.

Recall that it had been reported that to provide readymade markets for agricultural commodities and for farmers to get premium prices for their harvest, the Agro Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) Project in Kano state had partnered with AFEX, a commodity exchange company, to off-take farm produce under the project.

Speaking during a tour to the facilities provided by APPEALS to its beneficiaries in Darki, Wudil Local Government and Balare in Ajingi Local Government areas of the state, the Kano Project Coordinator, Mal. Hassan Ibrahim, said the collaboration would be of great benefit to the farmers adding that the development has provided an “automatic and reliable market” for the farmers.

Also, Ibrahim disclosed that the state government has constructed nine aggregation centres at different locations across the state as well as provided access roads that link farms with markets to enhance the supply of agricultural produce.

Agro Nigeria