Ministry of Agriculture, Kogi State

18/10/2018

Photo News

Pictures from Omi Dam in Ejiba Community, Yagba Local Government Area during the continuation of the assessment tour of Agricultural Projects of the ministry by the wife of Kogi State Governor, Hajiya Rashidat Bello.

17/10/2018

Kogi Agric commissioner lauds Governor Bello on attention to sector

Kogi State Commissioner for agriculture, Hon Kehinde Oloruntoba has described the record being set by the present administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello in the agricultural sector as unprecedented.

He said his ministry is currently reaching new heights in the areas of food production and job creation for the citizenry in a way that has never been witnessesed in the state's history.

Hon. Oloruntoba made this known while speaking to journalists on Tuesday in Ejiba Community in continuation of assessment tour of Agricultural Projects of the ministry in company of the Governor's wife, Hajiya Rashidat Bello when they went to the rice farm in Omi Dam, Yagba East Local Government Area.

The commissioner described the level of implementation and successes achieved so far as impressive, saying that fence sitters should be encouraged to cooperate with the ministry in moving the state forward because the project has generated jobs and will generate more before the end of the year.

According to the commissioner, the government is working by revolutionising agriculture in order to diversify the state's economy through incremental revenue sources.

"I want to thank the Governor's wife for taking the pain of going round some of our projects. We have seen what the government is doing in the area of agriculture and I believe we have gained more ambassadors that would assist in disseminating the good news of what we are doing here."

Hon. Oloruntoba enthused that Kogi state would in no distant time become the agricultural hub of the country as it is working hard to become self sufficient in food production, adding that the efforts being put in production of staple foods including rice by his ministry are evidence of that possibility.

Wife of the Governor, Hajiya Rashida Bello in her reaction said that her curiosity to have first hand information about what her husband's administration is doing was peaked by the level of investment and available data in the sector.

She said so much importance has been placed on the agricultural sector in an effort to diversify the economy and secure food for the people of the state and other Nigerians alike.

Hajiya Rashida described the state as naturally endowed with vast arable lands that could produce agricultural needs of the country if right manpower and resources were available.

Earlier, the Farm Consultant who is the Managing Director of Integrated Services Africa Limited, Mr Segun Olonade said the size of the farm in Ejiba alone was eight hundred (800) hectares and that over one thousand tones of rice has been harvested within the week.

Mr. Olonade expressed appreciation to Governor Bello for giving agricultural projects the needed support to succeed in Kogi state, adding that the efforts being put in by the government was fast placing the state on world map as an agricultural giant.

He called on young people to develop interest in farming as there are several opportunities in the venture that white collar jobs may not be able to offer.

16/10/2018

Gov. Bello to build 10 more greenhouses in Kogi to boost agriculture

The administration of Governor Yahaya Bello would in addition to the Greenhouse in Osara in Kogi Central Senatorial District, build ten more across the State to boost agricultural production, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Kehinde Oloruntoba has said.

Hon. Oloruntoba who led the Governor’s wife, Hajiya Rashidat Bello and a team of harvesters to Osara on Monday, told newsmen that the success recorded with the greenhouse has spurred the government into planning to build ten more that would be sited in all the senatorial districts across the State.

According to the Commissioner, the project which is aimed at empowering farmers to produce more and increase the economic base of the state would put an end to the wastage of agricultural products that the State’s farmers have been suffering due to lack of conservation facilities.

“When established,” Toba explains; “more produce will be conserved, and that will attract more buyers from every part of the country to Kogi for commercial activities.”

He expressed gratitude to Governor Bello for the adequate attention accorded the Ministry of Agriculture under his watch, adding that Kogi is fast becoming the agricultural centre of the country.

In her remarks, wife of the Governor, Hajiya Rashidat Bello told the women in her company that the effort was solely to boost agricultural produce, and to encourage and empower Kogi farmers.

She reaffirmed that plans were underway to replicate the project, adding that Kogi women were going to be the major beneficiaries of it.

According to her, the project has the capacity to boost agricultural produce in the state and make it to compete favourably with other states of the federation.

She said the effort would not only save the people of the state from the high cost of purchasing farm produce, but would also attract international traders to the state, stressing that it would in return transform the socio-economic fortune of the state.

While recounting the nutritional value of vegetables, Hajiya Rashidat commended the effort of the State Government under the administration of her husband, Governor Yahaya Bello for supporting the innovation which she described as worthwhile.

15/10/2018

Kogi Agricultural Revolution

Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture under the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello has no doubt witnessed tremendous progress through series of programmes that have impacted lives as has never been witnessed in the state since creation. Available records speak for themselves.

The pictures displayed here are those of the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Kehinde Oloruntoba; the Kogi State Accountant General, Alhaji Momoh Jubril; the Auditor General of Kogi State, Alhaji Yusuf Okala; and the Auditor General for Local Government, Alhaji Usman Ododo at the Green House farm of the Ministry in Osara.

The visit was not only an on the spot assessment, it was also meant to access the level of progress/success made so far by government on the project and to facilitate plans on how to develop and replicate the farm in other parts of the state.

These efforts no doubt have a lot of benefits accrued to it for the people of Kogi State as the harvest and sale of the farm's proceed could yield more resources for the State and generate job opportunity for citizens.

Stay with us, as we shall bring you more details of the efforts of the ministry through weekly updates on how they have been empowering the people of Kogi state by direct and indirect engagements that have put food on the tables of many.

15/05/2018

KGSG is to Flag off Anchor Borrowers Scheme

Kogi State Government is set to officially flag off the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Scheme today, Tuesday, May 15, 2018 in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Kehinde Oloruntoba made this known on Friday in a town hall meeting with some beneficiaries of the scheme at the Confluence Stadium.

Hon. Kehinde warned the benefiting farmers to adhere strictly to the objectives of the programme, adding that the ministry will employ the services of security agents to arrest and deal decisively with any farmer found bridging the agreement signed.

"Don't sell your farm inputs, the ministry will investigate, arrest and prosecute any farmer caught selling off the farm inputs they will be provided with to aid farming activities for them, you are also not expected to withdraw and spend the money your accounts will be credited with on frivolity," he cautioned.

He said the programme thrust of the Anchor Borrowers Scheme is to provide the farmers with farm inputs in kind and cash for farm labour to the farmers to boost the production of food in the country.

According to the Commissioner, Governor Yahaya Bello is expected to flag off the programme at 12noon in Government House, Lokoja.

Hon Oloruntoba said the money that will be given to them is a loan that will be repaid with the harvested produce from their farm to an Anchor at a designated collection center.

The commissioner appealed to the farmers to support the reelection of Governor Yahaya Bello and President Muhammadu Buhari to enable them consolidated on their achievements in the provision of more dividends of democracy to the people.

In his speech, the representative of CBN, Mr. Hassan said the (CBN) in line with its developmental function established the Anchor Borrowers Programme to assist rural smaller holder farmers grow from subsistence to commercial levels.

Mr Hassan while appealing to the farmers to maximise the opportunity to reduce the level of poverty, he called on the farmers to uphold the objectives of the programme for necessary result.

Also speaking, the representative of Union Bank, a participating financial institution in the scheme, Pastor Winner Idachaba said only farmers captured and shortlisted by CBN service providers will have their accounts credited adding that there was every need for the farmers to first verify their names.

15/05/2018

KGSG is to Flag off Anchor Borrowers Scheme

Kogi State Government is set to officially flag off the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrowers Scheme today, Tuesday, May 15, 2018 in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Kehinde Oloruntoba made this known on Friday in a town hall meeting with some beneficiaries of the scheme at the Confluence Stadium.

Hon. Kehinde warned the benefiting farmers to adhere strictly to the objectives of the programme, adding that the ministry will employ the services of security agents to arrest and deal decisively with any farmer found bridging the agreement signed.

"Don't sell your farm inputs, the ministry will investigate, arrest and prosecute any farmer caught selling off the farm inputs they will be provided with to aid farming activities for them, you are also not expected to withdraw and spend the money your accounts will be credited with on frivolity," he cautioned.

He said the programme thrust of the Anchor Borrowers Scheme is to provide the farmers with farm inputs in kind and cash for farm labour to the farmers to boost the production of food in the country.

According to the Commissioner, Governor Yahaya Bello is expected to flag off the programme at 12noon in Government House, Lokoja.

Hon Oloruntoba said the money that will be given to them is a loan that will be repaid with the harvested produce from their farm to an Anchor at a designated collection center.

The commissioner appealed to the farmers to support the reelection of Governor Yahaya Bello and President Muhammadu Buhari to enable them consolidated on their achievements in the provision of more dividends of democracy to the people.

In his speech, the representative of CBN, Mr. Hassan said the (CBN) in line with its developmental function established the Anchor Borrowers Programme to assist rural smaller holder farmers grow from subsistence to commercial levels.

Mr Hassan while appealing to the farmers to maximise the opportunity to reduce the level of poverty, he called on the farmers to uphold the objectives of the programme for necessary result.

Also speaking, the representative of Union Bank, a participating financial institution in the scheme, Pastor Winner Idachaba said only farmers captured and shortlisted by CBN service providers will have their accounts credited adding that there was every need for the farmers to first verify their names.

16/04/2018