From Shola Baraye,llorin
Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas has explained that the distribution of assorted farm inputs to crop farmers, construction and rehabilitation of livestock facilities across the State are some of the major agricultural policy of the government
. Thomas gave this hint during the State inter-ministerial press briefing, by the State Ministry of Communications, held in Ilorin during the week
The Commissioner noted that the present administration’s achievements in the agricultural sector among other interventions had given the farmers opportunities to improve on their farms activities and the real farmers were given the necessary machinery
According to her, 3,400 rice farmers under the umbrella of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Kwara Chapter, were given both N:P: K& Urea fertilizers across the State, adding that another intervention for 10,000 various categories of farmers was carried out, where farm inputs such as fertilizers, agro chemicals and seeds were distributed to the beneficiaries.
On human capital development, Thomas stated that the State government, through the Ministry has trained Agricultural extension agents to improve their skills in efficient service delivery, adding that the State government also facilitated the sponsorship of 14 youths to participate in specialized training at the Soilless Farm Lab in Ogun State.
She explained that an additional 7,000 maize farmers, 2,000 rice farmers, and 1,000 soybean farmers were empowered in the second quarter of the year to improve their livelihoods.
The commissioner added that as part of the deliberate effort in developing the livestock sector of the State, the State government through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has constructed and rehabilitated solar powered boreholes in various strategic places for both communal and livestock use across the State,
in addition to the construction and installation of 60 tonnes solar powered cold storage facility in Akerebiata Abbatoir, the commissioner said the rehabilitations of cold chain facility for storage of vaccine and other biologicals at the veterinary clinic in Ilorin were given the pride of place
Speaking on the effort of the government in safeguarding the public health of the populace; the Commissioner said the State government has rehabilitated and equipped the State veterinary clinic with modern state-of-the-art facilities to enhance service delivery in the animal health sector in order to prevent zoonotic disease, adding that the state-wide vaccination against anthrax would soon commence with the procurement of over 350,000 doses of anthrax vaccine through the L-PRES Project.
Other notable achievements included; rehabilitation of two slaughter slabs in Kwara Central, Procurement of 110 fodder chopper/crop residue crusher, Procurement of 70 number pasture compacting and pelleting machine and Training of 300 Extension Agents/Farmers on Small Ruminant Production and Crop Residue processing for improved utilization by ruminants among others.
