Date: 2015-02-20

Kwara State government has pledged to explore agriculture to improve the state’s economy in the face of dwindling allocation from the Federation Account. State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barrister Kayode Towoju stated that the state would create millionaire farmers who would in turn create wealth and employment for concerned stakeholders and the people of the state.

Speaking with newsmen, he said the concept of agricultural exploration of the government was aimed at reducing unemployment among youths by making the sector more attractive to them. 

“We are not going into direct investment; we are only facilitating and supporting professional farmers who hitherto complained of shortage of funds and lack of enabling environment. We are giving them a better environment and needed capital. That is the job of the government. 

“Our job is to see so many millionaire farmers growing up in Kwara State, who will now employ other hands to produce a new cluster of farmers and in turn take the job as a business. The concept of the government is not about taxation, but wealth creation and gainful employment. 

“We don’t want aged people to go to farm again, we want able-bodied Kwarans to go into farming using modern implements rather than hoes and cutlasses.” 

Towoju explained that the state government in its Agriculture Modernisation Master Plan (2012-2017) supports mechanised farming towards improving farmers’ yields and creating wealth.

He said the state government, as part of the master plan, had in April last year under its Off-taker Demand-Driven Agricultural Activities (ODDA) disbursed N250 million to farmers for improved mechanised farming across the state.