The Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Sulaimon has hinted that not less than 3, 000 youth farmers in Kwara State would benefit from agricultural inputs, free land clearing and improved seedlings among other incentives to facilitate increased agricultural production.
Speaking at the inauguration of an agriculture intervention programme jointly organised with the Kwara Renaissance Group (KWRG), Prof. Sulaimon said the programme: “would address food security and current high cost of food in the country.”
Stating that the intervention was to complement efforts of both the Federal and state governments to ensure food sufficiency, Prof. Sulaimon added that it would also develop capacity of local farmers in rice and all food crops cultivation.
“It’s an inspiration borne out of the need to feed ourselves and feed the nation because we’ve been undergoing a lot of crises. Both the Federal and state governments have been doing their best, but they can’t do everything. We need to complement their efforts.
“We have people that are ready to farm, as well as arable lands but the issue is how to assist them in their areas of need for better yields, such as farm instrument and tools, farm supplements, fertiliser, farm clearing, improved seedlings and stipends. These are Herculean task to some farmers and that’s what we’re providing for them.
“As individuals that are resourceful; that have the reach and connection, we also need to complement farmers and governments on what they’re doing. What I’m doing today is in line with capacity building of our institute to build capacity of Nigerian farmers, so that we can grow abundant food to feed the nation,” he stressed.
He urged every public-spirited person to emulate the initiative, saying that, “We need to assist the underprivileged. And the underprivileged starts from our farmers. When you have food on your table, you have everything. When you are hungry, you have nothing.
Also speaking, a representative of the KWRG, Ibrahim Toyeeb, described the Amana Farm2feed initiative as capable of increasing prosperity among farmers in the state.
Toyeeb, a tomato farmer, who said it takes about N60, 000 for clearing a hectare of land, added that the initiative is providing land clearing free of charge with other incentives such as seedlings, agricultural education and enlightenment on more productive way of farming.
“KWRG also has a team that would do monitoring and evaluation of the beneficiaries to ensure we have good results from selected serious farmers,” he said.
