The Kwara State government has commenced the distribution of farm inputs to farmers across the state.
The distribution of the farm inputs was flagged off at Apata Alaje, Banni community in Kaiama local government area of the state.
The state Ministry of Livestock Development is carrying out the scheme in partnership with Arzikin Noma and an international partner, IDH.
At the flag off ceremony, the commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said the project is focusing on cultivating sorghum and soyabean to boost grain production for animal feed.
She noted that the scheme would also check the perennial conflicts between farmers and herdsmen in the state.
She commended the development partners for coming on board, and described the partnership as timely and purposeful.
She said, “The current partnership with Arzikin /Idh/Olam is very timely because it is focused on cultivation of grains for human and animal, but majorly for animal feed production.
As we are all aware, food is the main reason for clashes between farmers and herders and if we can grow more grains that will be used for animal feed to achieve the modernisation and commercialisation of livestock farming, then we are on our way to ending farmers/herders clashes in Nigeria.
“This partnership will also help us to achieve a broader agenda of this administration- which is creation of industries and value addition centres, to ensure that goods produced in Kwara are processed or improved upon and do not leave the state as unprocessed goods,” she added.
The commissioner disclosed that the items for distribution include 18,000 bags of fertiliser, 6,000 litres each of 3 different chemicals, 75MT of sorghum seed, and 100MT of soya seed.
