Kogi Government has recorded a major milestone in its agricultural revolution with the successful weekly harvest of 260 kilogrammes of greenhouse-grown cucumbers.
The maiden harvest, carried out at the Federal University, Lokoja, marks the beginning of weekly harvests expected to continue for the next three months.
The Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Mr Olusegun Joseph, who represented Gov. Ahmed Ododo, supervised the harvest on Thursday.
Joseph said the achievement was part of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) initiative, designed to boost food security, promote smart farming, and empower women and youths.
According to him, beneficiaries of the project include women farmers from host communities as well as staff and students of the university.
The State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mrs Ladi Ahmed-Jatto, said the greenhouse project was being implemented across the three senatorial districts of the state.
She said the initiative had empowered thousands of farmers, including women from Felele and Crusher communities.
“At today’s maiden harvest, a total of 260 kilogrammes of cucumber was harvested. The harvest will continue weekly for the next three months before another crop cycle begins,” she said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, attributed the success of the greenhouse project to Gov. Ododo’s commitment to food security and sustainable prosperity.
He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for the agricultural sector.
“Mr President has empowered Kogi and energised the agricultural sector with his policies and support. We are only responding to that support by ensuring farmers benefit directly and by expanding our value chain,” he said.
Fanwo added that the state government was determined to become Nigeria’s “noiseless food basket”.
“We didn’t just go to Lagos to sign the Food for Lagos Partnership for television flashes. We are back home to walk our talk,” he said.
Some beneficiaries of the greenhouse project expressed gratitude to the President, the governor, and the ACReSAL team for the initiative.
A student farmer, Godwin Apeh, lauded the project and thanked all stakeholders for the opportunity to gain practical experience in modern agriculture.
