The Kwara state  government is putting in place, a program that will enable buyers to pay for the produce of its peasant farmers prior to commencement of planting.

The program known as off-taker demand is being driven by the government to bring dignity to the farmers’ produce and encourage them to produce to commercial level.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mallam Muhammed Babakpan Isah , who disclosed this in memorandum on commodity/off-taker demand driven in agriculture  at the just concluded Agric council meeting in Enugu, said the program will allow agro-allied industries to continue in business.

He explained that in the implementation of the program that a careful look was taken into the present position of where their non-commercial farmers are and where they want them to be by transforming them from subsistent to commercial farmers.

“Small numbers of these farmers were selected across the state based on the chosen four major crops of comparative advantages which can be improved by intensive extension services.”

Babakpan explained that government has sought out for markets and identified genuine farmers in the state who are capable of meeting demands for four arable crops, soya beans; maize; rice and cassava.

While noting that government will also focus on livestock, he said government invited some agro-allied industries and signed MOU with some of the identified farmers to seal their deals.

“In the event that a farmer cannot supply all the requirements of his off-takers, a cluster of farmers producing the crops will meet the requirements.

In addition to the facilitatory role and creating an enabling environment, the state government will have to mop-up the likely excess production in order to sustain the interest and zeal of farmers to remain in the production of crops and to stabilize price.”