Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services, and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has flagged off the distribution of 3,500 bags of 50 kg of fertiliser to smallholder farmers across the four local government areas of Kwara Central Senatorial district.
Flagging- off the distribution exercise, on behalf of Kwara Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, on Saturday, Mustapha said that the distribution was the first phase of a broader strategy to ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
Mustapha said that the initiative aimed to support agricultural productivity and improve crop yields for local farmers, adding that the programme was designed to empower the farmers within Kwara Central senatorial district to be able to minimise the challenges faced with food production and improve the quantity and quality of farm produce for the people of the senatorial district and beyond.
He added that about 1,000 pumping machines were distributed to the farmers.
“The impact of climate change and overcrowding of farmland has negatively affected the quality of the soil for farming. This has resulted in lower yield of crops.
“It is important to emphasise that I personally purchased the 3,500 bags of fertiliser distributed today to empower our farmers and improve their yield,” he said.
Mustapha noted that the distribution of such a significant quantity of fertiliser demonstrated a substantial investment in the agricultural sector, reflecting a commitment to enhancing food security and supporting the livelihood of farmers to boost food production in the state.
“We also facilitated the construction and furnishing of a block of two classrooms with an office and store, as well as solar-powered street lights at Government Day Junior Secondary School, Karuma, Ilorin East LGA, Fate/Basin Junior Secondary School, Ilorin South LGA, Local Government Junior Secondary School Odore, and Ilorin West LGA,” the legislator added.
At the distribution exercise, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kwara State, individuals and party members who are into farming attended the event tagged “Empowering Kwara Central Farmers: Unlocking Self-Sufficiency in Food Production.”