Kenya-based agro-foundation boosts agribusiness in Kwara, empowers 100 farmers

In a bid to promote and boost agribusiness in Nigeria, especially in Kwara State, the state government on Tuesday, said a Kenya-based African Agricultural Technology Foundation would support government through empowerment of 100 smallholder farmers with the needed incentives such as finance, seedlings and chemicals.

Anu Ibiwoye, special adviser to Kwara State governor on agriculture, rural and water, said this in Ilorin at a ministerial press briefing held on Tuesday, saying a 100-hectare of cassava plantation had been set aside by the Kenya Agricultural Foundation to boost agribusiness and empower 100 smallholder farmers in the state.

According to Ibiwoye, attaining such achievement is due to the state government’s focus on building collaboration among stakeholders in agricultural sector.

He said: “We have flagged off (CAMAP) cassava mechanisation project, a100 hectares of cassava to be shared between 100 farmers as empowerment. This is a programme that is being sponsored by a Non-Governmental Organisation from Kenya.

“We have identified the farm land and farmers. The NGO have provided seedlings, funding and chemicals so that at the end of plantation, when the crops are harvested, the farmers would be asked to sell to government as part of empowerment. We are now expecting approval from them.”

On the achievements of Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture in the last one-year, Ibiwoye said: “A very important programme the State is running in conjunction with technical assistant to the State governor, in small and medium scale enterprises and has recorded success in the ‘Off Take Demand Agric’ (OTDA).

“The scheme is running with about 160 farmers across the 16 local government areas of the state, essentially for agricultural crops: rice, soya beans, cassava and maize. We have established commodity board in the State for crops exportation.”

Speaking on the state government’s efforts aimed at improving agricultural produce and market, Ibiwoye said Kwara Agro Mall in conjunction with the AMO group had initiated and introduced  ‘Kwara Chicken Programme’ to stimulate and further develop agricultural market and the State economy at large.

He said: “With the introduction of Kwara chicken scheme, where 150 local farmers will produce Kwara branded chicken to be sold nationwide. We hope that in the course of one year, we can produce about 2.5 seedlings.

“Agro Mall is a one stop shop centre which was set by Kwara State government to link farmers to input, finance, seedlings, and others. It is an organization where farmers will get everything they need for efficient and effective performance and it has been helpful to all farmers in Kwara.”