The Kwara State Government has handed over 16 additional tractors to all chairmen of the 16 local governments in the state to improve public access to the implements and strengthen food security.
The government also distributed farm inputs as part of the Kwara Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACreSAL) initiative, underscoring the government’s commitment to agricultural revolution.
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 fertiliser (20:10:10); 5,040 bags of urea fertiliser; 720 bags of SSP fertiliser; 2,100 pre-emergence herbicides for maize (Atrazine); 720 herbicides for rice (Butaforce); 2,880 herbicides for soyabeans (Butaforce); 4,320 post-emergence herbicides for maize (Striker); 7,200 post-emergence herbicides for rice (Rice Force); 720 post-emergence herbicides for soyabeans (Legume Force); and 2,480 knapsack sprayers.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony, 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 16 local governments for the benefit of our farmers, especially the women and youth in farming,” he said.
According to him, the ministry is also going to distribute farm inputs as initiated by the governor for the benefit of the farmers in the coming weeks.
He said the ministry will also synergise 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 grassroots level.
“These 16 tractors are specifically coming from the state government and will be supervised by the ministry in partnership with the state committee on support and welfare for farmers,” he said.
In attendance were the Council Chairmen, led by the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) Chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi Danladi; members of the Kwara State Farmers Support and Welfare Committee; and other key stakeholders.
Danladi, in his submission, appreciated the state government for the gesture and assured that the trust that the administration has 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.
“We are used to this, because on a yearly basis, we see different things from the state governor. He has been doing the needful and honestly, we are happy to be here as council chairmen to witness what is happening today,” he said.
Chairman of Kwara State Farmers Support and Welfare Committee, Mallam Abdullahi Kaiama, lauded Governor AbdulRazaq for his constant support for farmers and every segment of the state.
“We have to glorify God and be grateful to Governor AbdulRazaq for all he has been doing towards promoting the welfare of the people of the state, particularly in the agricultural sector.”
“We are assuring the government that the trust reposed in us will never be betrayed. These implements and inputs will reach our farmers at the grassroots.
“To be very particular, we are giving it to them free of charge, and the farmers are going to glorify God and thank our governor for it,” he said.