By Ali Rabiu
At least 10,000 lead maize farmers are to be trained on late season farming by Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), through the Kwara LLAgricultural Development Project (ADP).
Declaring the programme open,in Ilorin ,the Commissioner for Agriculture jand Rural Development, Dr. Afees Abolore described the initiative as a landmark achievement for the state.
He said a total of 100 lead farmers, drawn from across the state, under the collaboration, were trained, while each of them is expected to further train 100 others, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 10,000 farmers.
Abolore explained that the programme is dedicated to young farmers in the state, adding that the state is a pioneer in this effort, as only four states in Nigeria were selected to commence the initiative.
He charged the participants to remain fully committed throughout the training process, reminding them that they are by default leaders of tomorrow through this initiative.
He advised them further to see themselves not just as beneficiaries but as change agents whose dedication and discipline will determine how far Kwara can go in transforming agriculture into prosperity.
The Commissioner, however, commended the foresight of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his exceptional commitment to agriculture in the state while also appreciating IITA for its invaluable technical support in making the programme a reality.
In her remarks, the Managing Director of Kwara Agricultural Development Project (KWADP), Dr. Khadijat Ahmed Alege, specthanked His Excellency for his commitment to agriculture at this critical period.
She urged the participants to be exceptional in their conduct and commitment throughout the training, stressing that their impact would be multiplied as they go on to train thousands of other farmers.
In a remark on behalf of the participants, Alhaji Salaudeen Mukaila expressed gratitude for the opportunity gand pledged that farmers would fully utilize the training to advance the vision of making Kwara a hub of agricultural excellence in Nigeria.
He expressed appreciation to Governor AbdulRazaq for his free tractorization and input intervention, noting that these supports have been targeted at real farmers in the grassroots where they are mostly needed.
Mukaila described the interventions as life-changing and reassuring for the farming community across the state.
The training programme, focused on maize production for late season farming, is expected to further position Kwara as a pioneer in technology-driven agricultural transformation while reinforcing the state government’s long-term food security strategy.
Mukaila maintained that gcombining training with practical interventions under this initiative, the state government is ensuring that young farmers are equipped with both knowledge and resources to drive higher productivity, build more resilient food systems, and secure sustainable livelihoods for the people of Kwara.END
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