Kyari to Assess FGN/IFAD Projects in Nasarawa, Commission Rice, Cassava Processing Centres

By Margaret Abah

The Federal Government/International Fund for Agricultural Development (FGN/IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme in Nasarawa State is set to host the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, on a two-day working visit aimed at assessing the level of project implementation in the state.

The Minister is expected to arrive in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. During the visit, he will join the Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, to commission two modern rice processing centres and one modern cassava processing centre across the state.

As part of the visit’s activities, Senator Kyari will also flag off the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers in Lafia, Doma, Wamba, Nasarawa and Karu Local Government Areas, in line with ongoing efforts to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food security.

Speaking on the significance of the visit, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Umar Tanko Tunga, said the Minister’s engagement would further strengthen the state government’s drive to reposition agriculture as the mainstay of Nasarawa State’s economy. He added that the administration of Governor Abdullahi Sule remains committed to prioritising agriculture to create sustainable employment opportunities for women and youths, while also addressing food insecurity.

On her part, the State Programme Coordinator of the FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, Dr. Eunice Adgidzi-Arin, disclosed that the Minister would be accompanied by the National Programme Coordinator, Dr. Fatima K. Aliyu, alongside other key stakeholders. She noted that the delegation would inspect ongoing infrastructural projects and interact with beneficiaries and value chain actors, including women, youths and persons living with disabilities involved in the rice and cassava value chains.

The visit is expected to underscore the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening agricultural value chains and improving livelihoods across Nasarawa State.