3,256 Women Benefit from Value Chain Development Programme in Kogi

The Kogi Value Chain Development Programme has empowered a staggering 3,256 women in the Rice and Cassava sectors, according to Stella Adejoh, the State Project Coordinator for the Federal Government/IFAD initiative. Speaking at the 2026 International Day of Women Farmers celebration in Lokoja, Adejoh highlighted the UN's declaration of 2026 as a historic acknowledgement of women's crucial role in agriculture.

The event, themed "Celebrating Women Farmers: Driving Food Security, Inclusive Agri-food Systems and Rural Prosperity," brought together various stakeholders, including women entrepreneurs, producers, processors, and marketers from the five benefiting Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ajaokuta, Ibaji, Kabba-Bunu, Lokoja, and Olamaboro.

Adejoh emphasized that women in Kogi have transitioned from subsistence farming to agribusiness, adopting improved technologies and practices. In rice production, women have embraced parboiling, milling, packaging, and branding to enhance quality and income. In cassava, they are producing gari, high-quality flour, and odorless fufu for broader market reach.

The Gender Action Learning System (GALS) has been a key factor in driving this change, facilitating discussions on household responsibilities and women's involvement in production and income decisions. Empowerment Learning Centres have provided women with essential skills in agribusiness, financial literacy, nutrition, and entrepreneurship.

Moreover, women are leveraging digital tools for market information, weather forecasts, and adopting climate-smart practices like soil and water management, homestead gardening, and crop diversification to build resilience. Through the VCDP, women have gained access to labor-saving processing equipment, moving from small-scale production to aggregation and distribution, as highlighted by Dr. Adejoh.