Supports another 10,000 farmers with farm inputs

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

The governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has said that his administration is committed to addressing the challenges of agriculture in the state to ensure an abundance of foods in the markets, and a drop in their prices.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony of the third batch of input distribution by the state government to another batch of 10,000 farmers which took place at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ilorin on Friday, he said,”This administration is committed to addressing the challenges in the agriculture sector.

He added that “Farmers are recognised as the backbone of food security and economic growth. Hence a rigorous farmers registration process has been set up, ensuring that only genuine farmers benefit.

Governor AbdulRazaq recalled that, the first batch of the Special Rice Intervention Program assisted 3400 real farmers with quality seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicals, resulting in a significant increase in production.,” stressing that,”With the second phase of FADAMA NG-CARES 600,000 farmers beneficiaries will receive support, including boats, seeds agrochemicals, power tillers and grinding machines. This initiative aims to make agricultural productivity more robust and widespread.

He further said,”In the current phase,10,000 farmers across the 16 local governments will receive improved seeds, chemicals and fertilizer. This effort is expected to yield a bumper harvest and significantly improve livelihoods.

Additionally, the governor said that the “livestock productivity and enhancement scheme (LPRES)aims to boost livestock productivity and market access, ensuring efficiency and profitability from farm to market. These initiatives reflect the administration’s dedication to sustainable and inclusive agricultural development.By supporting farmers, food security is ensured, jobs are created and economic growth is driven forward.”

He assured that “Efforts will continue to ensure interventions are effective and sustainable, with ongoing engagement with farmers, stakeholders and partners to align with the needs of the agricultural community.”

Daughter of First Civilian Governor of Kwara State Chief Cornelius Adebayo and Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security for Kwara state in an interview with journalists at the event said that’s Kwara state, we have been prioritising food security and improving productivity. We haven’t just been saying it, paying lip service to it but we have been very practical about it.”

The commissioner added that,”What we are witnessing today is the third distribution, the first intervention was for our rice farmers and we were able to provide support for 3400 farmers.

“Right after that we had another intervention, targeting about 600,000 farmers across the state through FADAMA, NG-CARES and we gave the farmers not just inputs but access, boats to our fishermen, tiling machines to improve productivity in the farm clusters. And this is the third one that we are witnessing today, and we are targeting 10,000 farmers giving them quality seeds, agrochemicals as well as fertilizer.”

And one thing we have to know about distribution in Kwara is that it has been timely, we are giving quality inputs, and we have to distribute them to the farmers on their farmlands across the sixteen local governments to ensure that they don’t have to worry about transportation concern which might tempt them to sell, so they’re able to put them to use immediately and they have really appreciated that.

“We have also improved on our database, and we gave inputs to only verified farmers. And then,I need to mention that in Kwara state, we are encouraging cluster farming which is also helping us to have meaningful intervention, making it easier for us to support the farmers distribution process.”