By joshua 
In an effort to explore Rice Farming potentials and evalute it’s full value chain towards sufficiency in Rice production, reduce unemployment and increase IGR, Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA) lead by Hajia Rekiya Sanni and other stakeholders in the Agricultural sector visited some Rice farms within Lokoja axis.
While speaking during the visit, the MD/CEO described KEDA as an agency that drives entrepreneurship growth and development, harnessing human resource and support the establishment of a sustainable economic society for all MSMEs clusters.
She said the visit aims at bettee understanding of the rice farming inputs and its value chain, challenges and comparative advantages, as it relates to Kogi State. It will also help in promoting Rice Farming awareness and encourage existing rice farmers.
The Rice Farmers who were glad about the visit stated that their major challenges over the years have been:- inadequate finance, lack of modern rice farming equipment and lack of fertilizers, among others. They therefore pleaded with the State Government through her agency KEDA for support.
Hajia Rekiya however assured the Farmers of His Excellency”s full support through her office and partnership with financial developmental agencies, to ease their financial and other constraints.
In attendance during the visit were the Special Adviser to His Excellency on SME and Job Creation, Hon. Danladi Suleiman Aguye, Hon. Abubakar Muhammed, Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurs, Also in attendance were Mr. Akin Akinola Executive Director Operations KEDA, Mr. Usman Zubair Executive Director Admin & Finance KEDA, Mr. Okolo Ichaka Director Agric. Services Ministry of Agric.