The Ogun State Government has been given a pat on the back for maximal utilisation of the mechanised advantage under the Federal Government's Value-Chain Development Programme Additional Funding (VCDP-AF)

The step, according to members of the 9th Joint FGN/IFAD team has been helping to increase rice and cassava production, enhance industrialization, create employment opportunities for youths and smallholder farmers, as well as link them to markets.

          The team made this submission during a supervision mission to the State to assess some farms, processing centres and markets in Obafemi-Owode and Odeda out of the eight implementing Local Government Areas.

          Speaking, the team leader, Madam Mariatu Kamara expressed satisfaction at the number of youths and local farmers that had been trained and empowered with modern inputs through the agricultural intervention programmes.

          ‘’Our mission is to review progress, look at implementation challenges and discuss with government on how to improve and strengthen the support. Ogun State has recorded tremendous achievement and will be beneficial to the community and the State’s economy", she remarked.

          She charged the beneficiaries to retain their commitment, support one another and protect the facilities.

          Addressing the beneficiaries, VCDP National Coordinator, Alhaji Garba Bala commended the youths and encouraged them to influence others to also benefit from the programme.

          Welcoming the team earlier, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina, lauded the Federal Government, IFAD for their support towards job creation, food security, industrialisation and mechanisation of smallholder farmers with private sector participation.

          "We are doing something very extra-ordinary because we are clinging into what has been approved by VCDP which tallies with our agricultural agenda and we cannot afford to joke with it. Our youths have been trained to produce high variety of rice and cassava and promote value-chain activities", he said.

          Other Local Government Areas where VCDP operates in the State are, Ijebu North-East, Ijebu East, Ifo, Yewa North, Yewa South and Odogbolu.