The Ogun State government has tasked the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) to expand its efforts in improving nutrition for farmers and other stakeholders.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, stated this on Tuesday in Abeokuta at a policy engagement and stakeholders’ dialogue on nutrition.

VCDP is funded by the federal government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Mr Owotomo noted that improved nutrition would boost food production and the economy in the state.

He encouraged VCDP to sustain its impactful legacy in nutrition, enhancing food quality in rural communities, promoting family well-being, and fostering stronger communities.

“Through series of training on utilisation of cassava, rice and orange fleshed sweet potato, VCDP have impacted women and youths with knowledge needed to change their feeding habits.

“Also improve family health and increase the income of the rural populace in the participating local government areas.

“Scaling up nutrition is therefore not merely a programme requirement, it is a moral and economic imperative. Empowering women and youth leads to stronger families, more resilient communities and greater food security,” he said.

The commissioner reiterated the state government’s unwavering dedication to agriculture as a key driver of economic development.

He noted that the achievements of VCDP in the state demonstrates the shared vision of the government, development partners and communities.

 Acting State Programme Coordinator, VCDP, Abiola Adewole-Sobukola, stressed that rural communities must be well-nourished and healthy to fully benefit from development interventions.

She said, “Nutrition being one of the major thematic areas of VCDP in the state, the programme has trained 777 women across the participating LGAs on utilisation of rice and cassava products to make confectionaries and improve nutrition.

“We have also supported 1,268 farmers to establish home gardens in their backyards, and 410 farmers benefited from the distribution of local chickens to improve nutrition.”

(NAN)