The Kogi State government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Solidaridad to boost support on agricultural productivity and food security in the country.
The Kogi state believed in agriculture transformation current has a largest farm in Suleja Niger State precisely, Kogi state is a complex state with great opportunity in numerous agriculture potentials
During the unveiling launch of Phase 2 Projects in Abuja, the Kogi State governor represented by the SGF Kogi State, Dr. Folashade Arike Ayoade,
commend the Solidaridad and NIPCONS for recognising Kogi state. She reaffirmed the commitment of support from the state to transform agriculture in general.
She said, “God has blessed Kogi state with arable land which is at the centre of the nation and surrounded by River Niger, River Benue. We seek this opportunity to commend the UK government and Kingdom of Netherlands for supporting collaboration in achieving these initiatives.”
“ I am standing here to sign an MoU memorandum of understanding with Solidaridad on behalf of the state government to boost palm oil production in states.”
Ayoade further said, many people of our dear state have actively participated and benefitted from many NISCOPS activities. With the launch of NISCOPS-2, Kogi State is willing and committed to partner with Solidaridad and IDH and be part of additional initiatives that will provide undeniable results.
‘According to her, with three of her LGAs, signed MoU with Solidaridad on the National Initiative for Sustainable Climate Smart Oil Palm Smallholders (NISCOPS), Kogi will in particular, be interested in Aquaculture in all its value chain, given that the Kogi State capital,Lokoja serves as the Confluence of the two largest bodies of the rivers in Nigeria – the rivers Niger and Benue.’
The Kogi State government is very grateful to the governments of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom for promoting these initiatives meant to address challenges of climate change that are negatively impacting agricultural productivity, food security and the environment and biodiversity.
Meanwhile, the CEO Chairman executive Board, Daan Wensing, said, the increased demand for the palm oil sector globally in the production commodity has not necessarily resulted in beneficiary returns to smallholders in west africa. Despite international and domestic initiatives standards, this is because of not only its impacts on peat and forest ecosystems but also emission from inputs and effluents.
‘’Under the National Initiatives for Sustainable and Climate-smart Oil Palm Smallholders, NISCOPS, programs Solidariadad and IDH are placing smallholder farmers at the centre of intervention as change agents in the palm oil sector. he said.’’
He said, IDH is an international organisation working around the globe Improving smallholders farmers financial literacy and investments of financial institutions. To accelerate finance solutions for sustainability for the local farmers. Also build capacity partnerships with government private sectors, civil society groups, farmers associations, and Institutions.