The Chairman of Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has flagged off the distribution of 3,500 bags of 50kg fertiliser and 1000 modern pumping machines to smallholder farmers across the four local government areas of Kwara Central Senatorial District.
Mustapha, who represents the senatorial district at the red chamber, said the gesture was the first phase of a broader strategy to ensure sustainable agricultural practices in the district.
Beneficiaries of the empowerment cut across members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), individuals, and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who are into farming in the senatorial district.
During the distribution of the farming inputs in Ilorin, the senator assured that more farmers would benefit from the scheme in the second phase of the distribution exercise.
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He said the scheme is aimed at supporting agricultural productivity and improving crop yields for local farmers.
“The impact of climate change and over-cultivation of farmland has negatively affected the quality of the soil for farming. This has resulted in lower yield of crop produce.
Mustapha noted that the distribution of such a significant quantity of fertilizer demonstrates 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.