Female maize and cassava growers in Kwara State have solicited for government support on cluster farming in the state.

Many areas in Ilorin West Local Government lack adequate land for farming because of its capital city status.

The situation had forced many farmers to secure lands in the outskirts of the city to carry out their commercial farming activities.

Speaking on the issue, a cassava and maize female farmer, Mrs Modupe Suleiman, said their relocation to Alapa in Asa Local Government Area for cluster farming to save cost needs the assistance and intervention of government.

According to her, “The problem we have in Ilorin West is the issue of land, it is a big issue trying to get farmland in Ilorin and that is why we have located a land at Alapa to have it as clusters.

“But our challenge now is clearing of the land and uprooting the trees which we seek the assistance of government on for us to get down to work.

“If we have lands scattered across different places, getting tractor will be difficult. This is where we need the government most. We are having issue with the herdsmen with our scattered farmland but if we have it in clusters, we can employ the services of the security,” she noted.

Modupe said “The government should look into the issue of access to fertilizers which is costly now” adding that “We also need improved but expensive corn seedlings to boost yields.