Report by ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU; Editing by BASIRAT MEMUDU
Kwara State Government has distributed additional tractors to the 16 local government areas of the state to improve public access to the implements and strengthen food security in the state.
The government has also distributed farm inputs as part of the Kwara ACreSAL initiative, underscoring the government’s commitment to agricultural revolution.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony in Ilorin, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Afeez Alabi, said the gesture was part of the commitment of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to ensure food security in the state.
“Today marks another milestone in the history of Kwara State as we are deploying the tractors to all the 16 local governments for the benefit of our farmers, especially the women and youth in farming,” he said.
The Commissioner said distribution of additional farm inputs will be done in the coming weeks.
He explained that the Ministry will synergize with the council chairmen and leadership of the state farmers support and welfare committee to monitor the distribution of inputs and ensure that the items get to farmers at the grassroot level.
In his address, Kwara state ALGON Chairman, Abubakar Danladi, assured that the trust the state government placed in the local authorities will not be misplaced.
He said the ALGON is prepared to monitor the distribution of inputs and make sure the tractors are efficiently put to use to achieve the objectives.
For his part, the Chairman, Kwara State Farmers Support and Welfare Committee, Mallam Abdullahi Ahmed Kaiama, commended the state governments constant support for farmers and every segment of the state.
Items distributed included 16 tractors; 32,000 kg maize seeds (1,600 bags); 18,000 kg rice seeds (Faro 44) – 360 bags; 10,800 kg of soyabean seeds (TGX 1951)– 270 bags; Inoculant (720 sachets); 5,040 bags of NPK fertilizer (20:10:10); 5,040 bags of urea fertilizer; 720 bags of SSP fertilizer; and 2,100 pre-emergence herbicide for maize,among others.
