Date: 2017-11-09

No fewer than 80 cooperative societies and 800 farmers are expected to participate in the Harmony Agric holding in Ilorin next week.

The Group Head, Agriculture Division of Harmony Holdings Limited (HHL), Mrs. Iyabo Amaajo made the disclosure during an interview with journalists at Kwara Hotels on Monday.

She said the theme of the trade fair 'Sustaining Food Security' is intended at charting a way forward for the growth of the agricultural sector in the country and beyond.

She added that the programmes is aimed at boosting agriculture, not only in Kwara but also in the country at large.

According to her, the fair would aid efforts to restructure farming and improve its commercial viability in a way that farmers would have nothing to lose after harvests.

Amaajo stressed that the state government created the Agriculture Division in Harmony Holdings to engender a synergy among the agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Macro Small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with regard to projects that were initiated for farmers.

"We are going to address the issue of off-taker, demand-driven agriculture. That is, we already have people who would buy farm produce from farmers before they even go for planting.

"With the success of the maiden edition of the fair last year, we were able to gather enough information that enabled the government to support us and give some money to farmers.

"This year, we have farmers in 100 groups and our focus is to restructure their farming techniques; they should see agriculture as a serious business.

"We want to open other areas of agriculture production, while giving farmers advice whenever they need it."

The Group Head noted that those expected at the fair include foreigners, off-takers, inputs suppliers, out growers and agricultural research institutes like IITA which would proffer suggestions on how to get good quality produce.

She added: "In addition, other expected participants at the fair include tertiary institutions from different parts of the country".

Also Speaking, the Operating Officer, Kwara State Bureau of Macro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Mr. Segun Soewu, stressed that the trade fair was one of government's strategies aimed at encouraging entrepreneurs to invest in agricultural projects.

He added that the fair is a way of attracting partnership with foreign agricultural experts in their efforts to boost agricultural production in the country.C