According to a news report from Punch, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services, and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, on Sunday, initiated the distribution of farm tools worth over N200 million to farmers in Kwara State.

Representing Kwara Central Senatorial District in the Senate, Mustapha distributed 3,500 bags of 50kg fertiliser and 1,000 pumping machines to smallholder farmers across the four local government areas of his constituency. This marks the first phase of an initiative aimed at promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

In addition to individual farmers, Mustapha also extended the support to associations such as the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and the All Progressives Congress.

At the event tagged “Empowering Kwara Central Farmers: Unlocking self-sufficiency in food production,” which was held at the playing ground of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, the lawmaker hinted that the initiative was to support agricultural productivity and improve crop yields for local farmers.

The Senator added that the programme was aimed at empowering farmers within the Kwara Central Senatorial District to be able to minimise the challenges faced with food production and improve the quantity and quality of farm produce for the people in district.

“The impact of climate change and over cultivation of farm land has negatively affected the quality of the soil for farming. This has resulted in lower yield of crops produce. It is important to emphasise that I personally purchased the 3,500 bags of fertilisers distributed today to empower our farmers and improve their yield,” he said.

According to him, the distribution of such a significant quantity of fertiliser demonstrated a substantial investment in the agricultural sector, reflecting a commitment to enhancing food security and supporting the livelihood of farmers to boost food production in the state.

The Senator, who is also the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory Area Council, used the opportunity to reel out his achievements in office which he stated included among others; the reconstruction of one kilometer asphaltic road opposite Al-Hikmah University linking Oke-Foma road in Ilorin West Local Government Area was facilitated by him.

He pointed out that solar-powered motorised boreholes and street lights were also installed across the four local government areas of his senatorial district, to complement the state government's effort in ensuring that the people of the state have access to safe water.

“For record purposes, the solar-powered motorised boreholes were provided at Ile Onifitila, Kankatu, Okelele Road, Ilorin East LGA, Jato Community Ifesowapo, behind Taoheed Central Mosque in Ilorin South LGA, Itamerin Junction, Opposite Alhaja Oil in Ilorin West LGA, Aloba Close, Oke Ikoyi, Oke Oyi in Ilorin East LGA, Agbeyangi town in Ilorin East LGA, while the Solar powered street lights were installed at the Computer Village Challenge Area, Ilorin; and Muslim Cemetery, Oko-Olowo, among other areas and the over 30 communities across the four local government areas of Kwara Central Senatorial District.

“We also facilitated the construction and furnishing of a block of two classrooms with office and store as well as solar-powered street lights at Government Day Junior Secondary School, Karuma, Ilorin East LGA, Fate/Basin Junior Secondary School, Ilorin South LGA, Local Government Junior Secondary School Odore, Ilorin West LGA,” the legislator insisted.

Also speaking, the National President of Ilorin Emirate Descendant Progressives Union, Alhaji Abdulmumin AbdulMalik, described the distribution of farming tools as apt and timely as farmers were currently in farming season, saying that the senator, Saliu Mustapha, had been empowering his constituents and the people of Kwara State before he became the senator.

The Chairman of the Fertilisers Distribution Committee, Hon. Hammed Adebayo noted that the uplifting of genuine farmers across the four local government areas of the Kwara Central Senatorial Districts would boost farming and increase food production in the state.