By Demola Akinyemi

ILORIN—Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State said, yesterday, that his administration has disbursed about N1 billion to 500 small-holders farmers and 40 commercial farmers in the state.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State

Besides, he said, 381 kilometres of rural roads will be rehabilitated in 2018 under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP, in partnership with the World Bank and the Federal Government.

Speaking at the opening of the 2nd Harmony Agriculture International Fair, HAGIF, at Banquet Hall, Ilorin, the governor said the small-holder farmers were also provided access to 2,550 hectares of land across the state.

He said Off-Takers Demand Driving Agriculture, ODDA, scheme was a programme formulated to drive employment, boost food production and diversify the state’s economy.

Earlier, Chairman of Harmony Holdings, Professor Halidu Abubakar, said with the state government’s support, the company gave out loans to over 100 cooperative societies and 1,000 farmers.