Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state was at the weekend in Ilorin given an award of excellence for his stride on commercial farming by the International Soil Tillage Research Organisation, Nigeria Branch.

The Chairman of the Organisation, Professor Stephen Ojeniyi who led other members to the governor's lodge for the presentation said the purpose was to appreciate and encourage the governor to do more in the promotion of commercial farming.

The team leader who recalled the governor's predecessor's efforts in promoting commercial farming commended the governor for sustaining the initiative and showing other governors the way.

With the state's efforts on commercial farm according to the don, the state had become a reference point for other states of the federation and urged them to emulate Kwara commercial agricultural initiative.

The state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed expressed gratitude to the organisation for its recognition of hard work and rewarding it.

He also spoke of his government's intention to set up soil laboratory in the state to support commercial farming initiative of the government.