The prevalent challenge of spoilage and access to market which has riddled the vegetable business in Kwara state is set to be a thing of the past as the state is being positioned to be a vegetable hub in Nigeria.

This was disclosed by the Kwara State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, FMARD, Mr. Adebisi Buhari in a recently held stakeholders meeting on Vegetable production and marketing in his office.

Reiterating the need to transform the state, he said, "Researches and demonstrations have proven lately that fruits and vegetable production can thrive very well in this ecological zone and we can take advantage of the proximity and huge market availability in Lagos and Ibadan."

He added that frantic efforts were being made to collaborate with other stakeholders in the area of marketing so as to reduce the wastage being experienced by vegetable and fruit farmers seasonally.

Also at the meeting, the President, Agriculture and Mining Association of Nigeria, Kwara State, Hon. Bolaji Atunse said his organisation is working towards improving the well being of farmers in the State by helping to solve the problem of marketing once and for all.

"A lot of wastage has occurred in the past which has driven many away from the business but we have now identified five locations in Lagos State: Mile 12, Sandros, Maroko, Whitesand and Mile 2, where we hope to supply directly from various production sites in Ilorin", he commented.