Agriculture
THE FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP-AF) has facilitated a policy dialogue on the adoption and effective implementation of standard weights and measures in Kogi.
Speaking at the event on Saturday in Lokoja, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC) of IFAD-VCDP, Dr Stella Adejoh, said the initiative would ensure consistency and accuracy in the measurement of weights, length, volume and other quantities.
Adejoh said that the dialogue was meant to bring all stakeholders together to fashion out the best way for the adoption and implementation of the policy in order to achieve the benefits of weights and measures in the state.
“The purpose of standard weights and measures programme in the state is to protect consumers and businesses by ensuring that equity prevails in all commercial transactions, involving determination of quantity.
“It helps to provide standard and discourage unfair and dishonest commerce, eliminates fraud and misrepresentation in commercial transactions in the system.
“The VCDP places much premium on its farmers to ensure that their livelihoods are enhanced through participation in agricultural practices along the value chain of production, processing, and marketing.
“This policy dialogue is very critical because it brings on board the principle of transparency and accountability such that no individual is short-changed in the process of commercial transactions,” Adejoh said.
The SPC boss disclosed that the IFAD/VCDP since inception had positively impacted lives of rural farmers across the five benefitting Local Government Areas of Kogi.
She also said that the dialogue would balance the equation of having enough food on the table and the peace of mind to enjoy the food as served.
She further said that IFAD/VCDP operations and activities, which started fully over three years ago, had made great impacts with evidences in the lives of farmers as well as boosting the state’s economy.
According to her, VCDP is developed to enhance the incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava on sustainable basis in the targeted LGAs.
According to her, the VCDP overall target in Kogi is to impact 8,000 beneficiaries, comprising 7,200 small holder farmers and 800 processors and traders across Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Olamaboro, Kabba-Bunu and Ibaji LGAs.
She attributed the modest achievements recorded by the VCDP in Kogi to the supportive role played by the State Government, IFAD and the entire stakeholders.
In a remark, the Speaker, Kogi House of Assembly, Mr Aliyu Yusuf, who declared the dialogue open, commended Kogi VCDP for its great impacts in the lives of the poor farmers in the state.
“VCDP has greatly touched the lives of our people, particularly my constituents, and I am here to appreciate and encourage them to do more.
“We sincerely appreciate the state programme coordinator of VCDP for the good work she is doing with her team,” Yusuf said.
He urged the stakeholders to come up with viable policy documents to be presented for legislations and enactment at the state assembly.
He promised the commitment of the lawmakers to consider such a bill and ensure its speedy passage, in order to have a law that would guide the effective implementation of standard weights and measures in the state.
“We must ensure fair trade, accuracy, decency and transparency in our society.
“We must not cheat or shortchange one another,” he said.
Also, the state Head of Service (HOS), Elijah Evinemi, called for effective dialogue in order to ensure standard weights and measures in the state.
Evinemi, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training, Office of the HOS, Mrs Elizabeth Oloruntoba, emphasised the need to create adequate awareness and disseminate the information to the grassroots.
Stakeholders at the meeting included representatives of the Commissioners for Commerce and Industry, Agriculture, Finance, Budget and Economic Planning.
Contributing to the discourse, the stakeholders called for adequate sensitisation, especially at the grassroots, that would ensure the adoption and effective implementation of standard weights and measures in the state.
They also advocated for legislations, laws and strong enforcement of the regulations governing compliance to standard weights and measures.
They further recommended the availability and affordable weight and measure as well as capacity building among them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
29th September, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: IFAD-VCDP
