Kogi state is blessed with massive fertile land, closer to River Niger and has comparative advantage in area of agriculture, the state agrarian nature if fully explore could turn it to leading exporter of agriculture produces.

Unsurprisingly, Governor Yahaya Bello in his new direction agenda blueprint gives special attention to agriculture with the view of expanding Kogi Economy, reduce unemployment and lure more youth to agribusiness.

Recall that Governor Bello in his inauguration speech said: ''We have conceived a socio-economic Blueprint that we trust God will rapidly develop our State and radically empower our People. The said Blueprint will rank as a sort of Marshall Plan for rebuilding Kogi State on every index of Development.

''Under this Plan, Education and Health Infrastructure, State of the Art Security Coverage, Roads, Rural Water Schemes, Farm and Agricultural Communes, heavy Investments in Solid Minerals, Artisanal Mining Collectives, repositioning of Kogi State as a preferred tourist destination, etc. are projected to play lead, often overlapping, roles.''

Therefore, the New Direction government kick start agricultural revolution in the state to support Agricultural Renaissance Policy of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure food
security and promotion of non oil sector for economic transformation.

To this end, the state government procured agricultural machines to ease the process of food production, make agriculture convenient and enticing to our youth population. According to the governor, Agriculture is our strength in Kogi State. It is our own crude oil and we hope to make the best of it.

Furthermore, Governor Yahaya Bello is working with his team, federal government agencies and private sector players to ensure Kogites get more value for their investment in the sector.

Upon assumption of office in 2016, the governor approved procurement of 375 Fergus Tractors with complete implements, three quantities each for Mini Harvesters, Planters, Broom Sprayers, Rice
Reapers and other similar equipment to enhance agricultural activities
and boost production.

Similarly, Kogi state government purchased assemblage of 1500 Tillers which were distributed to small scale farmers in 2017.

Apart from that, Governor Bello facilitatiled loans for farmers to encourage mechanization and improved their production outputs. This move has attracted thousands of youth to key into farming through orientation, sensitisation, mechanisation input subsidiary.

Besides, the incumbent administration acquired and cleared 1000 hectares of land for farm estates across the state, thereby giving youthful farmers opportunity access farmland, inputs and agric machines without stress. Consequently, investment of the goal-getter governor is yielding positive fruits as more investors are making inroad to Kogi state.

Apparently, the establishment of three bio-ethanol producing companies in the leading producer of Cassava in Nigeria shows Governor Yahaya Bello is putting the confluence state on right path through ongoing agriculture revolution. In November 2018, the Cassava City in Osara received a boost following arrangements by Contec Global, Geron Oil & Gas and Jil Farms to invest about $25 million in the cassava farms.

Contec Global in partnership with Geron Oil & Gas, Praj India and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), will be producing 40,000 litres of bio-ethanol per day. The plant will employ over 2,500 people on a full time basis and Central Bank of Nigeria has verified over 240 farmers for the Cassava City to access the Enhanced Anchor Borrowers Programme.

Without mincing words, the enhancement of security architecture, provision of infrastructure, tax friendly regime and business friendly policies of Governor Bello will continue to attract more investors beyond agricultural. Interestingly, the youthful governor with 21st leadership skills has create harmonious relationship among business organizations in the state. The reaction of UNICANE and Crest Agro, which currently own large ethanol companies in Kogi State to entrance of Contec Global into the industry is soothing to the soul as they both expressed their delight at the project, saying the cassava city will provide more feedstock for their operations.

Additionally, the purposeful leader is also working assiduously to boost livestock business in the state by collaboration with CBN, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and others to encourage Kogites to key into investment opportunities in this area.

For instance , Kogi state has embraced the Central Bank of Nigeria’s
Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (ADS) through payment of the State’s counterpart fund and constructed
500 fish ponds as a pilot scheme and have been handed over to over 1000
youth across the state to own and operate.

In a related development, over 400 youth will also be empowered in Akpata Ega in Idah Local Government where 400 ponds have already been constructed. This is
being replicated in all the Senatorial Districts in the state. The main
scheme is targeting 10,000 youth across the state.

As part of efforts to bridge the gap in vegetable production using the advantage
of the nodal location of the state, the State Government has established a state of the art greenhouse Farm at Osara to produce tomatoes and other vegetables.

Similarly, Kogi state government in
collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture distributed 76truck-load of inorganic
fertilizer to farmers at a subsidized rate to boost soil fertility. Likewise, the willpower and seriousness of Governor Yahaya Bello's administration prompted FG to nominate Kogi as
pioneer state for the National Egg Production Scheme by empowering 135 youths with N4.2 million each to support their poultry farms.

Evidently, the Omi Dam success story is a massive testimony of the achievement of
the Yahaya Bello-led administration in agriculture. The scheme ispositioning the state as the rice destination of Nigeria. The State
Government has also empowered hundreds of youth to grow rice in the
riverine areas of the state. The state government contributed immensely to the cultivation of 3000 hectares of rice and 5000 hectares of cassava in the state.

Moreover, the ongoing construction of the Kogi State Rice Mill at Omi others with smaller capacities are being
constructed at different locations across the state affirms to the fact that Kogi economy future is bright and will rewarding for the citizenry in the long run. It's noteworthy that thousands of farmers across the state have benefitted from the Anchor Borrowers Scheme of the Federal Government.

Little wonder while unemployment rate reduced in Kogi based on latest National Bureau Statistics report despite the overall increase in the country because agriculture has created over 20,000 jobs for
Kogites.The impressive scorecards of Governor Yahaya Bello in Agriculture is testament that Kogi economy is becoming stronger and viable, and this can only be sustain through deliberate will of the people and support New Direction administration to do more.

Media Strike Squad

We are into Poultry equipment and livestock

Hmmm

Image laundering at the 11th hour!

Mr. Man, tell your principal to pay salaries instead of wasting public funds on "hyping a bad candidate".