The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has provided cash assistance and farm implements to more than 5,000 farmers in Kwara State to help them recover from dry season losses and improve agricultural productivity.

Speaking during the distribution of relief materials in Ilorin on Monday, HYPPADEC Managing Director, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, said the intervention fulfilled the commission's promise to support farmers whose farmlands and crops were affected during the dry season.

According to him, the commission also earmarked N10 million for 100 indigent farmers impacted by natural disasters across its mandate areas.

"We are here today to distribute relief items to communities affected during the dry season, where many farmers lost their farmlands and crops. We made a promise to support them, and today we are fulfilling that promise," Yelwa said.

He commended the Kwara State Government for complementing the intervention by providing hybrid maize seeds to farmers across the five benefiting local government areas, describing the initiative as a significant step towards boosting food production and improving livelihoods.

Yelwa said HYPPADEC committed about N100 million to the programme, with N10 million allocated as direct financial support for 100 affected farmers, while farm equipment and production inputs worth about N90 million were distributed to beneficiaries.

He noted that supporting farmers would encourage increased agricultural production, wealth creation and improved living standards.

"What is important is that the government is thinking about its people and supporting farmers. That is the real investment," he added.

The Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture in Kwara State, Toyosi Thomas, described the collaboration between HYPPADEC and the state government as a major boost for agricultural development in the state.

She said beneficiaries would also receive extension services to ensure proper use of the farm inputs and adoption of improved farming practices.

"It is not common for farmers to receive mechanisation support, production inputs and extension services together. This collaboration is expected to deliver meaningful results," she said.

Thomas also disclosed that the state government is supporting 7,500 farmers with fertilisers, while another 2,000 farmers will benefit from the Special Maize Programme, which includes mechanisation support, extension services, production inputs and an off-take arrangement with Flour Mills.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kwara State, Abubakar Abdullahi, urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity by making proper use of the inputs.

He warned farmers against selling the distributed items, stressing that anyone caught would face prosecution.

The intervention covered farmers from Edu, Patigi, Baruten, Kaiama and Moro Local Government Areas, with HYPPADEC providing power tillers, planters and other farm equipment, while the Kwara State Government supplied improved maize seeds, fertilisers and agrochemicals.