The Kwara state governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed has called for the re-evaluation of financial sector's funding of agricultural business as part of efforts to promote the non-oil sector of the economy.

Governor Ahmed made the call when then National Economic Summit Group led by its Chairman, Mr Folusho Philips paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Ilorin.

Addressing the group, Mr Ahmed noted that financing agriculture cannot yield desired results on the prevailing lending format since it requires a different timeline and inherent risks.

The Governor said his administration's agricultural policy as encapsulated in the Kwara Agricultural Master Plan include the establishment of agricultural malls where real farmers can access agricultural inputs and expertise as well as the emergence of 160 farmers, in the first instance, who will be change agents in the promotion of commercial agriculture.

In his response, the Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Mr Folusho Philips disclosed that the group was exploring the potential of agriculture in driving the non-oil sector of the national economy.

According to Mr Philips, it is expedient that the country takes advantage of its natural endowments of good weather and abundant outlays of rivers to maximize its potentials in agriculture.

Mr Philips commended the state government's initiative in promoting agriculture as a business through the Shonga farm concept and solicited the assistance and participation of the Kwara State Government in the group's forthcoming summit on the agricultural sector.