By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to strengthen the existing partnership with financial institutions to develop the agricultural sector in the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas made the commitment while receiving in audience the officials of Sterling Bank Plc, led by the Head of Institute Banking, Mr. Badiru Apaokagi in her office.
A statement by the Press Secretary of the ministry Yusuf Ganiyu Adebisi, quoted the Commissioner describing the partnership as important for sustainable agricultural practices, which she said would further boost food production in the state.
Mrs.Thomas, who explained that the present subsistence farming practice could no longer sustain the country, stressed the need for paradigm shift to the modern method of commercial farming.
She revealed that the present administration, through the Ministry, is planning to embark on mass production of food through the Private Sector, Community Driven Cluster Farming Initiative that would guarantee returns of farmers investment across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.
The Commissioner assured the bank of the state government’s confidence in its service delivery and capacity to assist the farmers to breakeven in their businesses.
Responding, the team lead, Mr. Badiru Apaokagi said their visit was to felicitate with the Commissioner on her appointment, and also discuss areas of partnership between the bank and the Ministry in removing all obstacles hindering the progress of the agricultural sector in the state.
He stated that the bank believes in the ability of the Commissioner to change the narratives of farming activities in the state.
In a another development, the Commissioner has advised Corp Members to embrace agriculture as one of the viable sectors to address the problem of unemployment in the country.
Mrs Thomas gave the advice during a courtesy visit by the Agro-allied Community Development Group (CDS), under the National Youth Service Corps, Ilorin East Local Government Area of the State.
She enjoined the corp members to be job creators rather than job seekers to address the problem of unemployment in the country.
Earlier in her remarks, the leader of the group, Mrs. Daramola Banke requested the Ministry’s support for their various programmes to assist the corp members in order to positively impact their host communities.
