Kogi state is located between latitudes 60:33’and 80:44’N and longitudes50:22’ and 70: 49’ E. The state has a total population of about 3.278million (NPC, 2007) people with an average of about 228,964 farm families (LSR, 1999). About 70% of the people live in the rural areas and mostly engage in one form of agricultural practice or the other. The average farm family in the state is made up of 7 people with an average farm size of about 2 hectares per farmer.
                                      
Administratively, the state has 21 local government areas. They are Adavi, Ajaokuta, Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Okehi, Idah, Ijumu, Kogi, Ofu, Olamaboro and Kabba-Bunu. The rest are Ajaokuta, Ibaji, Igalamela-odolu, Lokoja, Mopamuro and Omala.

There are two main seasons in the state. The wet season begins towards the end of March and ends towards the end of October. Meteorogical records have shown that rainfall start as late as April in some years and peak between august and September. Dry season begins in November and last till late February. The month of December and January are usually cold and dry due to the influence of the North-East winds that usher in the harmattan. 

The vegetation of the state consists of rain forest in the areas bordering rain forest zones of the country. Other parts consist of wooded savannah and grasslands. Some of the noticeable trees include locust-beans, baobab, akee-apple, shea-butter and Iroko among others.

The major ethnic groups in the state are- Igala, Ebira, Yoruba(Okun), Nupe and Bassa. Other groupings are also found in the state.

Majority of the people of Kogi state are farmers and rural dwellers. The rich and highly diversified soil conditions with adequate rainfall provide the ample reasons for the predominant farming population of the state. Agricultural crops such as yam, cassava, maize, guinea-corn, rice, palm produce, cocoa, coffee, cashew, etc, are produced in the state. In addition to farming as the major occupation, a number of citizens are civil servants while a few others engage in commerce, weaving, etc.

Mixed cropping is the predominant system of farming with the use of traditional hand implements. The land tenure system is based on family/clan arrangement and inheritance.  
Kogi state is endowed with all natural facilities which favour fishing activities. The two largest rivers in Nigeria (Niger and Benue) flow through the state with all their tributaries. This condition greatly influences the occupation of the people around the riverine areas of the state. Also, Kogi state has abundant natural conditions that favour livestock development.