FGN/IFAD Programme Boosts Rice, Cassava Yields as Nasarawa Farmers Record Exceptional Harvests
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has announced a bumper harvest in rice and cassava production by farmers participating in the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Nasarawa State.
The achievement, recorded during the 2025 farming season, is the outcome of the FGN/IFAD VCDP implemented in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The State Programme Coordinator of the FGN/IFAD VCDP, Dr. Eunice Adgidzi, disclosed this at a one-day media roundtable held in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Dr. Adgidzi explained that at the inception of the programme in 2020, many farmers practiced seed broadcasting in rice cultivation instead of establishing nurseries for transplanting, leading to significant seed wastage and low yields. She noted, however, that continuous training and capacity-building interventions under the programme have transformed farmers’ production methods and technical skills.
According to her, rice yields have improved remarkably, with farmers now harvesting up to 4.5 metric tonnes per hectare, a significant increase compared to previous outputs. She attributed the gains to the provision of certified, disease-resistant and drought-tolerant seeds, alongside improved agronomic practices.
She added that cassava production has also recorded notable improvement, with farmers now producing up to two metric tonnes per hectare, largely due to access to improved planting materials supplied by the programme.
Dr. Adgidzi further outlined the three core components guiding the implementation of the VCDP. These include the Market Development Component, which focuses on enhancing profitability for smallholder farmers and agro-processors through improved market access and value addition; the Smallholder Productivity Enhancement Component, aimed at boosting productivity in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner; and the Programme Coordination and Management Component, which ensures effective implementation while integrating gender, youth, environmental sustainability, monitoring and evaluation, knowledge management and communication.
In his remarks, the Knowledge Management and Communication Officer of the FGN/IFAD VCDP in Nasarawa State, Mr. Samson Jonah Akwe, stressed the need for journalists to understand donor expectations when reporting on the programme.
He highlighted key achievements recorded in the state between 2021 and 2025, including the construction of commodity aggregation centres, culverts and market stores, as well as rice and cassava processing facilities across several local government areas.
According to him, notable projects include an aggregation centre at the Ashangwa Rice Innovation Platform, a rice processing centre in Wamba Local Government Area, and a fully equipped rice processing facility with drying sheds, drying slabs and a crèche for the Kauna-Maiday MPCS in Doma Local Government Area. He also listed the provision of small-scale irrigation facilities, irrigation pumps, rice threshers, mini rice transplanters and rice reapers to farming communities across the state.
Mr. Akwe commended journalists for their consistent coverage of VCDP activities and urged them to ensure accuracy and proper documentation in their reports to support the programme’s growth, sustainability and continued impact on agricultural development in Nasarawa State.
