Kwara state, Deputy governor ,Mr Kayode Alabi 3rd left the state Commisssioner for Agriculture and Rural Development,Mallam Abdullateef Gidado Alakawa during the Flagg off of distribution of Agric incentives to 4,000 Small scale farmers in Ilorin Kwara state- Pix by ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
At least four thousand farmers have been earmarked to benefit from Kwara state government free agriculture incentives to ensure food security in the state.
Performing the official Flag off of the distribution of the free agric inputs ,the state Deputy governor,Mr Kayode Alabi said the incentives will be distributed across the sixteen local government areas in the state.
According to him the aim of the programme is to enable farmers engage in all year round farming at ease.
Mr Alabi said the state government had procured fifteen tractors to help farmer cultivate farmland .
He explained that bulldozers had been provided to clear more land for farmers to expand the their farming businesses.
The deputy governor urged the beneficiaries of the inputs to use the incentives for the purpose they are meant for.
In his address ,Kwara state Commisssioner for agriculture and Rural development, Mallam Abdullateef Gidado- Alakawa said the support was targeted at small scale farmers who are large in number to enable them grow.
He noted that the state government had put in place measures to enable it implement all it’s agricultural transformation plans .
In his remark the Executive Director Agric services,Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Dr,Jimoh Mohammed ,said the authority would make available its irrigation facilities to enable farmers produce continuously.
In his response on behalf of the beneficiaries of the free Agric incentives,the acting Coordinator, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria,(RIFAN) Kwara state Chapter,Mallam Mohammed Salihu commended the state government for supporting farmers in all areas of their needs.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would boost agric production and ensure food security in the state.
ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU