The Kwara State Government has earmarked N750 million micro credit scheme to support farmers in the state.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who made this known on Friday at the roll out of the Federal Government Agricultural Transformation Agenda and the E-wallet scheme held at Oke-Oyi, the headquarters of Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state, said the initiative is in furtherance of government’s commitment to ensuring food security and creating agro-allied jobs and wealth.
According to Abdulfatah: “The administration would also strengthen agriculture value chain in the state through the establishment of agriculture malls in the three senatorial districts to serve as one stop shops for farm input, equipment, financial and extension services to farmers across the state.”
While commending the E-wallet initiative of the Federal Government, the governor said the scheme would guarantee access to inputs such as fertilizer and improved seedlings to farmers in the state.
He reassured Kwarans that the Kwara State Agriculture Master Plan, which was launched in New York, United States of America, would reposition the state as the agriculture hub in the sub region and sustain food security for the people.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Elder Peter Kisra, pledged his administration’s commitment to the success of the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda and the E-Wallet scheme, adding that his government has put in place the enabling environment for farmers to profitably engage in advanced and improved agriculture practice that transcends subsistent farming.
In his address, the special guest of honour at the event and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, represented by the Regional Director, North Central Zone of the ministry, Sunday Edibo, stressed that the focus of the government was to turn the nation into a major exporter of food rather than importer of food.