At least 6,000 crop and livestock farmers in Kwara State have benefited from the first round of government and World Bank-enabled support along agricultural value chains, with Governor Abdul- Rahman AbdulRazaq saying it was part of the measures to strengthen food security and protect vulnerable households from post-COVID-19 challenges.

Flagging off the Kwara FADAMA NG-CARES Result Area 2 inputs and assets to some of the beneficiaries in Ilorin East on Tuesday, AbdulRazaq said the administration has keyed into many initiatives which empower as many vulnerable families as possible to get over the hardship imposed by the COVID-19.

“One of such is the FADAMA NG-CARES (Results Area 2) which has been planned to boost food security and deliver prosperity along agricultural value chains to thousands of poor households across Kwara State,” he added.

“This programme involves provision of agricultural inputs and services and agricultural assets for production and primary processing.

At least 6,000 people will benefit from this. While 3,000 livestock and fishery farmers will benefit from input and assets, additional 3,000 crop farmers will also receive inputs and assets of different kinds.

All of these are designed to support our farmers and lessen the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on them. This will also have reverberating effects on the local economy.