Date: 2018-01-04

Members of the Kwara State House of Assembly have begun harvesting their farm produce, soya beans, which they planted about four months ago.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Ahmad made this known via his Twitter page (@HonAliAhmad) on Wednesday, after visiting the farm known as Dodo Integrated Farm Nigeria Limited located at Agogo, Ejidongari district in Moro Local Government Area of the state.

It will be recalled that the lawmakers in August, 2017 acquired a 300 hectares of land and also accessed a N40 million loan from the state government to cultivate soya beans and maize.

The N40million was part of the N1billion agriculture loan released to the state government by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and was shared among the 24 members of the House.

Ahmad said that the legislators took to farming to encourage kwarans to diversify into Agriculture. He decried those who thought it was a political move or statement.

He added, "4 months ago, we decided to go into farming to address the economic recession, diversify the nation's economy, improve national food security, strengthen production of locally made goods, create wealth and employment opportunities.

"To some, it was another way of playing politics with people's psyche but we were unperturbed as we gradually went on with our resolve to showcase to kwarans and Nigerians the potentials in agriculture.

"Now that the result is out, it was a great way of demonstrating to thousands unemployed Kwarans that agriculture is another way to display their potentials, be their own boss and earn legitimate money rather than waiting endlessly for shrinking white collar jobs."

The Speaker said that farming would unlock the key potentials in every individual and especially among the unemployed youths who are hell bent on securing white collar jobs.

He said it is high time every Nigerian saw farming as a must for the nation to attain food security, wealth and employment creation and economic buoyancy.

Ahmad also appealed to local government chairmen and workers across the country to embrace agricultural practices with a view to generating more revenue to pay staff, boost food security and discourage idleness in their respective councils.

He said: "I am of the strong conviction that this initiative would undoubtedly serve as encouragement to individuals, groups and thousands of agile youth in the State who probably have lost hope about their future or engaged in all sort of unlawful activities."