The federal government in Partnership with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has launched a strategic learning route on Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF) under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme to connect farmers, processors off-takers, financiers and government to Sustainable Agricultural Systems.
The occasion which was organised by the National Coordination Office of the SAPZ Development Programme and Country Programme Advisory Team (CPAT) held in Makurdi the Benue state capital.
Blueprint reports that the event brought farmers from other states to cross-fertilise ideas for enhanced productivity.
The training as well brought together stakeholders in the agricultural value chain, including farmers’ group, off-takers, agro-investors, development partners, government officials on knowledge-sharing experience.
The event which was anchored on Peer exchange on CAF Public -Private- Producer-Partnership (4Ps) model, aimed at driving inclusive agri-business growth for win-win for both farmers and stakeholders.
Blueprint correspondent reports that participants who were trained on operationalisation and monitoring, discussion on gender, youths inclusion and access to finance and best practices for value chain development. also embarked on field visits to rice and cassava value chain projects training.
In a welcome address, Benue state project coordinator FNG/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme Additional Financing (VCDP) Dr. Emmanuel Igbaukum, urged participants to be attentive in all the activities earmark for the training to enable them to get what they will teach farmers back in their various places
Dr Igbaukum in a presentation tagged, “the Benue Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF) Models Achievements” said, the core objectives of CAF is to improve access to credit, Markets, Inputs and Infrastructure.
He disclosed that farmers across five local government areas in Benue state including Agatu, Gwer-West, Guma, Gwer-East and Kwande have been trained on budgeting, goal setting, saving, credit use, insurance, investment among others, adding that the training is supported by Winichfarms and Sterling Bank.
He said, “Other objectives of CAF to include, facilitating public private dialogue in agriculture, promoting market transparency, contract fairness, strengthening capacities, in financial literacy digital tools, Resolving Farmer-level conflicts as well as monitoring the impact and sustainability of interventions among others.”
The Coordinator explained that the introduction of Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF) is a VCDP initiative under the FGN/IFAD in Benue serves as a farmer-centered coordination platform connecting farmers, processors off-takers, financiers and government actions with a goal of building, Market-driven, and sustainable agricultural systems.
Earlier, the National coordinator of the programme, Dr Fatima Aliyu, urged participants to pay attention so that they will be able to learn new things, go back and step it down the training to farmers and other colleagues who may not have the opportunity to attend the training.
Represented by the National Officer, in charge of Rural Institute Development Specialist Abuja, Abel Ameh, commended Benue state Ministry of Agriculture and FGN/IFAD coordinator for demonstrating a successful agro-business through their innovations and various programmes that bring farmers and stakeholders together to learn new things.