Kwara warns against commercialisation as 2,019 farmers get inputs

The Kwara State Government has distributed farm inputs to 2,019 indigent farmers, while warning against commercialisation of the items.

The distribution, held in Ilọrin, was part of the third phase of the Kwara Fadama CARES intervention.

Items received by farmers at the ceremony included knapsack sprayers with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), Fish Smoking Kilns, Rain Gun Sprinklers, Water Pumping Machines with accessories for fish farmers, Poultry Feeders and Drinkers, Small Ruminants, Maize shellers and Soya Beans Threshers.

Flagging off the disbursement, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated that interventions are tailored towards easing hardship in the country and to reduce hunger and poverty.

• FG, centre build farmers’ capacity on agricultural best practices
• Peru reclaims over 4,000 cultural treasures from US, Europe

The governor, who was represented by the Chairman State Fadama Technical Committee, Mr. Ishiaq Olayinka Oloruko-Oba, said the items given will be monitored to ensure that they are judiciously used.

AbdulRazaq warned the beneficiaries against commercialisation of the items to achieve the expected impact in the society.

Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Kwara Fadama CARES, Engr. Dr Busari Toyin Isiaka, disclosed that the Kwara Fadama CARES is premised on the objectives of the Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus with the support of the governor for free distribution.

“We are giving 2,019 farmers succour today. In the first disbursement in 2022, 6,561 farmers benefited from both input and asset distribution, while, as a sequel, 8,020 beneficiaries emerged in the second phase.”

He said the governor has supported 16,600 indigent farmers through the intervention.

A beneficiary, Comrade Jamiu Ahmed of Ogo Oluwa Farmers’ User Group from Ilorin West LGA, described the intervention as timely and promised that the farmers would not abuse the opportunity to make the people feel the impact of the initiative.