MON DEC 16 2024-theGBJournal| Kwara State Government has said its doors are open for partnerships with any non-governmental organisations and agriculturists who share the same vision and commitment with the administration to develop agric value chain in the state.
The Kwara State government said it is currently collaborating with the Olam in the area of allocation of farmland and training of extension workers on the production of soya beans and maize and value addition with a view to scaling up food security and nutritional intakes.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Hon Oloruntoyosi Thomas spoke in Okuta, Baruten local government, on a working visit to the town and its environs.
On the Commissioner’s entourage were the Manager, Olam Agri, Amit Mathur; Director Agricultural Service Ministry of Agric, Hajia Afusat Hussein; and Chairman Soyabeans Farmers Association, Kwara State branch, Olawoyin Yinka Solomon; among others.
Oloruntoyosi said the partnership covers the provision of 100 hectares of land and seedlings by the government to improve access to good seedlings and impressive yields.
“The focus of the partnership is on improving the productivity in quality and quantity in the soya beans value chain,” the Commissioner said on Wednesday at the Palace of Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Abubakar Idris Sero, who received the team.
“Olam will soon open the soya oil processing plant in Asa Local Government, as facilitated by His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who made sure that the plant is situated within the state for easy processing of soyabeans.”
He said Olam has also received the government’s assistance by fast tracking the land documentation and other processes.
According to the Commissioner said, Kwara is a good location for soya beans oil processing plant because the state is blessed with fertile land and over 150 thousand hectares of land is being cultivated with soya beans across the state.
“We will continue to support our extension workers because our farmers need to have up-to-date information on how to farm better through technological driving so that they can improve their yields,” she added.
Emir of Okuta, Alhaji Sero, said the major occupation of the people of Baruten is farming, and appreciated the Governor for his agricultural development initiatives in the local council.
“We thank His Excellency for giving the farmers the needed attention. Some people are concerned about different things but His Excellency is concerned about the grassroot and giving us attention, as farmers, matters a lot,” the monarch said, pledging the support of his people to make the project a reality.
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