By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State Government has partnered with the National Agriculture Land Development Authority (NALDA) to scale up food production in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas made this known during her field inspection of the proposed site for the programme at Malete, in Moro Local Government Area of the state.
She revealed that the partnership is part of the present administration’s efforts to ensure food security in the state.
According to her, “Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is much concerned about the plight of the people in the state most especially the farmers, has instructed the Ministry to facilitate dry season farming across the 16 Local Government Areas, as a way of increasing the availability and affordability of food items with a view to curbing the current hardship in the country”.
The Commissioner also hinted that the present administration is reinvigorating the Malete Integrated Youth Farm Training Centre, through a cluster farming system by selecting youths from different parts of the state, pointing out that this would serve as a pilot scheme, which would be replicated among willing communities in the state.
She disclosed further that the cluster farming model is aligned with the Cadre Harmonise Food and Nutrition Security analysis recommendations and the Federal Government’s drive for an all-year-round farming programme.
The programme, when properly managed, Mrs Thomas opined, has the potential to improve the farmers’ income, generate employment opportunities for value chain operators, and as well enhance the well-being of the indigenous farmers.
In his brief remarks, the NALDA representative, Mr. Segun Owolabi explained that the Federal Government has provided all the necessary facilities for the smooth take-off of the programme in the state.
