The Kwara State Government is to construct modern agricultural analytical laboratory as part of efforts to boost agriculture in the state, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed disclosed this in the 2015 budget proposal he presented to the state House of Assembly.

Daily Trust reports that over N2.2 billion was allocated to the agriculture sector out of N119 billion proposed for 2015 fiscal year.

The amount would be expended on agricultural programmes like the construction of the laboratory, the up-taker demand driven programme which according to the governor would empower 160 farmers with a loan to move from subsistence to commercial farming.

The governor said: "The state government will continue to sustain the measures put in place to boost food production and increase private sector participation in commercial agriculture in order to make agribusiness viable.

"Additional incentives will be created to drive the growth of agriculture and related agro-allied industries as well as support small holding farmers to enhance their livelihoods and wealth creation."

He noted that the state in collaboration with the Federal Government in the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) has enhanced the productive capacity of small holder farmers and reduced poverty.

He disclosed that the government would rehabilitate six (6) primary Animal Health and Public Health Centres in each senatorial district to ensure proper hygiene and service delivery.

"Within the last three-and-a-half years, this administration has effectively positioned Kwara State as the emerging hub for agriculture with the launch of a KAMP, a roadmap to agro-driven prosperity, the injection of funds to out grower farmers and the provision of critical farm inputs to farmers across the state," Ahmed added.

Speaking with Daily Trust on the budget proposal, the state Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Elder Daniel Ajiboye, commended the government for improving agriculture.

He advised that the budget should be implemented to the latter, adding that doing so would boost food sufficiency, improve the state's economy and reduce Nigeria's dependence on oil.