By Dare Akogun
In a bid to arrest rising food costs, the Kwara State Government has announced plans to invest in irrigation systems to boost food production in the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Adebayo-Thomas, disclosed this at the state inter-ministerial press briefing held at the Ministry of Communication in Ilorin, the state capital.
She highlighted the shift towards sustainable land and water management, focusing on irrigation and drainage to address challenges such as land degradation, deforestation, and climate change.
“Climate change is one of the prevailing environmental problems in the world that has gained universal discussion in recent times because of its multiple effects.
“These effects have also metamorphosed into some impacts such as the decline in agricultural activities, drought, migration, health problems, erosion, hunger, and poverty, among others.
“By investing in irrigation infrastructure and technology, the state government is expecting to achieve greater food security, reduce poverty, create employment opportunities for Kwarans, and reduce food prices in the state,” she said.
Thomas also revealed that the state is planning to plant trees on 11,000 hectares of land in Lata community Pategi LGA to combat climate change devastation.
She said the tree planting campaign was in collaboration with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) and the World Bank program.
“The exercise will enable various communities to protect their environment as well as become climate-smart,” she added.
Thomas further disclosed that the state is planning to train farmers on organic farming and discourage the use of fertilizers in food production.
