Kwara state government has secured another investment in agriculture to the state as part of efforts to turn the state to agricultural hub in the North central part of the country and provide sustainable employment for the youths.
The Managing Director, Quinn Mc Grath Nig. Ltd, Mr Didi Ndiomu during a courtesy call to the state governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, disclosed that the company in conjunction with the Bank of Industry will be investing in a 120,000 tonnes per annum feedmill in the state.
According to Mr Ndiomu, the company has acquired 1,800 hectares of land for farming in Malete, Moro local government area of the state and another 900 hectares for animal husbandry in which they hope to generate a minimum 700 direct jobs.
Similarly, the Executive Director (Finance) Bank of Agriculture, Prince Niyi Akenzua who called on the state Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, requested for collaboration with the state government in agriculture stating that kwara state has taken a major leap in commercial agriculture in the country, especially with the Shonga farms initiative.
According to Prince Niyi, Bank of Agriculture intends to fund purchase of tractors to increase yield of farmers thereby expanding rural farming and helping to diversify the economy.
The Executive Director acknowledged the state government's existing structures in agriculture, which according to him does not exist in many parts of the country.
Responding, Governor Ahmed said agriculture is a major programme adopted by the state government, especially by the previous and current administrations in the state.
The Governor disclosed that the off-taker demand driven scheme in the state was designed to make the youths key into agriculture as a busuness. "We partner with prospective anchor farmers to move farming in the state to the much desired level", Gov Ahmed said.
He said the state is fully engaged in the production of rice, maize and cassava with successful poultry farms saying youths of the state are willing and ready to go with the agricultural revolution of the government.
The Governor called on the Bank of Agriculture to play a helping hand in the issue of anchor grower scheme in order to upscale and ensure full implementation as a way of ensuring that farmers would not get discourage whenever there is glut in the market.
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