The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its commitment to enact a law that will sustain the gains of the Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development–Value Chain Development Programme (FG/IFAD-VCDP) for smallholder farmers in the state.
Dr Peter Akwe, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, gave the assurance on Thursday during a field visit by the VCDP team to Barkin Abdullahi (B.A.D) Community in Lafia North Administrative Area.
The team was led by Mr Umar Tanko-Tunga, Commissioner for Agriculture and Chairman of the VCDP Steering Committee in the state.
Akwe said the proposed legislation would institutionalize the programme’s interventions and ensure continuity and sustainability beyond its lifespan. He commended the VCDP for its impact on rice and cassava value chains in the state and added that the legislature would provide the necessary legal backing to protect the investments.
Residents of Barkin Abdullahi welcomed the team in large numbers as they inspected ongoing projects, including a bridge at Takpa Road Rice Aggregation Centre, a cassava processing centre, and a solar-powered borehole in the community.
Speaking at the project sites, Tanko-Tunga said the visit aimed to assess the level of work done, expressing confidence that the projects, when completed, would significantly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the area.
He assured that Gov. Abdullahi Sule would continue to prioritize agriculture as a key driver of economic development and urged residents to take ownership of the projects and protect them from vandalism.
Also speaking, Mr Garba Isimbabi, a member of the House representing Toto-Gadabuke constituency, echoed the legislature’s commitment to enacting a law that would guarantee the sustainability of the programme.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, Barr. Hauwa Jugbo; the Administrator of Lafia North Administrative Area Council; and the State Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Amb. Isaac Kigbu, said the interventions would reduce poverty and increase farmers’ incomes. They urged beneficiaries to support government policies and programmes aimed at boosting agricultural productivity.
In her remarks, Dr Eunice Adgidzi, the State Coordinator of VCDP, represented by her Technical Assistant, Mr Victor Alaku, said the visit aligned with the programme’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of smallholder rice and cassava farmers on a sustainable basis. Alaku added that the projects reflected the shared vision of the Nasarawa State Government and the Federal Government to enhance food security and reduce hunger and poverty.
Representatives of Kauna Women Garri Processors in B.A.D, Mrs Paulina Edom, and the youth leader of the area, Mr Charles Soja, expressed appreciation for the intervention, describing it as a relief to the community.
The team also paid a courtesy visit to the traditional ruler of the area, the Aren Koron-Kuje, Mr Joseph Namo, who requested the construction of a road linking Lafia to Barkin Abdullahi and commended Gov. Sule for his investment in agriculture.
