Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its resolve towards ensuring food security in the state.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, gave this indication during the 4th Quarterly Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Ministry of Finance’s conference room.
Mrs. Thomas outlined several initiatives that emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to revitalizing the agricultural sector and improving livelihoods.
According to her, key milestone in 2024 was the Ministry’s partnership with Olam Company to enhance the soybean value chain.
The Commissioner noted that deliverables of the partnership include two thresher machines and 6,000 packaging bags distributed to farmers in Baruten Local Government Area, providing critical support for improved soybean production and processing.
She assured that the collaboration also facilitated capacity-building workshops for farmers, equipping them with modern techniques to boost yield and ensure quality.
Mrs Thomas maintained that the initiative has significantly contributed to value addition and market competitiveness in the soybean sub-sector across the State.
The Commissioner posited that the Ministry also hosted the North Central Zonal Conference of Women and Youths in Agribusiness and Entrepreneurship, a landmark event that empowered women and youths by providing training, resources, and networks to encourage active participation in agribusiness.
Mrs Thomas also asserted that the revitalization of the long-abandoned Kaiama Cattle Ranch and the establishment of 1,000 hectares of pasture in Kaiama, with plans to replicate this in every local government area, were achieved through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES).
She was of the view that the initiatives now provide herders with access to water and nutritious feed, improving livestock productivity and incomes while promoting peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders. Also under L-PRES, a State-wide anthrax vaccination campaign was launched to protect livestock health and strengthen resilience in the livestock farming sector, a vital component of the State’s economy.
The Commissioner stated that the Ministry intensified its efforts to build capacity by training 300 additional farmers and extension agents in small ruminants production and efficient crop residue utilization, bringing the total to 700 trained individuals in 2024.
She pointed out that the training Programmes were aimed at equipping farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to improve productivity and sustainability.
Mrs Thomas confirmed that to support agricultural extension services, 193 motorcycles have been provided to Agricultural Extension Agents under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL) as the support has ensured timely delivery of critical farming interventions across the 16 local government areas.
