As the new planting season begins, the Kwara State Government has again distributed farming machinery and large quantities of agricultural inputs to farmers across the 16 local government areas, reinforcing its commitment to food security and economic growth.
Speaking at the symbolic flag-off ceremony in Ilorin yesterday, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq described the intervention as part of his administration’s broader agenda to combat poverty and empower rural communities through agriculture.
“This is more than a routine gesture—it is a strategic investment in our farmers, rural livelihoods, and long-term food security,” the governor said in remarks delivered on his behalf by Senior Adviser and Counsellor, Alhaji Sa’adu Salau.
“What we are flagging off today is only the beginning. More distributions will follow in structured phases, reaching even more communities.”
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Items distributed included 16 tractors along with matching ploughs, harrows, and ridgers; 32,000kg of maize seeds; 18,000kg of Faro 44 rice seeds; and 10,800kg of soya bean seeds.
Farmers also received thousands of bags of fertiliser—5,040 each of NPK and urea, and 720 of Single Super Phosphate—as well as chemicals like herbicides and crop-specific sprays.
To aid application, 2,400 knapsack sprayers were also given out.
The initiative falls under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) programme, a World Bank-supported effort aimed at enhancing agricultural resilience and productivity.
According to Commissioner for Environment, Nafisat Buge, the latest intervention reflects Governor AbdulRazaq’s forward-thinking approach to sustainable food production.
Governor AbdulRazaq also highlighted strides in rural infrastructure and irrigation development, citing the rehabilitation of feeder roads and the empowerment of farmer cooperatives as key achievements of his administration.
He urged recipients to use the inputs responsibly, describing them as “investments in your productivity, your future, and the prosperity of our state.”
Top government officials, local government chairmen, traditional rulers, party stalwarts, and farmer representatives attended the event, which also featured goodwill messages from cabinet members and development partners.
Afeez Abolore, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, and Yunus Usman Lade of the Water Resources Ministry, both commended the Governor’s dedication to agricultural transformation.
State ACReSAL Coordinator, Shamsideen Aregbe, recalled that in December 2024, the government distributed 193 motorcycles to agricultural extension officers to ease farm monitoring and advisory services.
Chairman of the Kwara State Farmers’ Support and Welfare Association, Abdullahi Ahmed, expressed gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries, saying the continuous support from the state government had boosted farmer confidence and productivity across the state.
