A First Class Monarch in Kwara State, North Central, Nigeria, Dr Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya, has commended the state government for its huge investment in the agricultural sector.

Dr. Yahaya, who is the Emir of Shonga, gave this commendation when the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas and her team paid him a courtesy visit in his palace at Shonga, Edu Local Government Area of the State.

The Emir, represented by the Narkodi Shonga, Alh. Yahaya Baiwa, who disclosed that the people of Shonga were predominantly farmers, “called for financial and technical support from the state government due to the high capital intensive nature of modern farming activities.”

While expressing the challenges facing farmers in the area, the monarch said most of the farmers find it difficult to access farm implement such as; solar pumping machine and urged the government to come to the aid of the farmers in order to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.

Responding, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, who appreciated the monarch and his people for their support to the present administration, pleaded for more cooperation in the implementation of government programmes, especially the dry season farming programme.

Speaking at the various irrigation sites visited, Mrs. Thomas “assured that the state government would continue to prioritize the farmers' needs to enhance their efficiency in the farming business.”

She also enjoined farmers to ensure proper utilization of government's empowerment items to encourage the government to do more to attain food security in the country.

The member representing Edu Constituency at the State House of Assembly, Saba Yisa Gideon said he had facilitated the establishment of a rice milling centre at Tsaragi to complement the state government efforts in adding value to farm produce and rice processing in the area.

Gideon, who is a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, stated that “the centre is already equipped with rice miller machine, destoner machine, grader and packaging machine, which can compete favourably with other competitors in the market.”

Places visited include Bacita, Lafiagi, Shonga, Yelwa village, and Patigi, among others.