Kwara SAPZ: KWSG Trains Farmers on High-Yield Seeds, Crop Protection Products, Fertilizers

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...Gov. AbdulRazaq Targets Youth Employment, Rural Economic Stimulation, Says Finance Commissioner

As part of its commitment to deepening agricultural productivity, the Kwara State Government has broadened the capacity of 150 farmers on smart agricultural practices, particularly in crop production, to enhance food security and economic buoyancy.

The enlightenment was the focus of a five-day training organised by the Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project, titled "Training of Farmers on High-Yield Seeds, Crop Protection Products, Fertilizers Under Kwara SAPZ Project."

The training, which was held in Ilorin from Monday, August 24, 2026, to Friday, August 28, 2026, was conducted by S.G. Imperial Concept Limited.

While declaring the training open, the State Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, said the Kwara SAPZ Project was designed to strengthen the entire agricultural value chain by equipping farmers with the knowledge and skills required to navigate the agricultural process, from planting through harvesting, processing and marketing.

"I am convinced that the programme is one of the programmes that His Excellency, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has passion for because food security is essential for the entire community and the State as well.

"We want to strengthen the food value chain to make sure that we have enough food in the State, and we will export as well. In fact, I am encouraged by the economic dimension of the programme," Dr. Nuru explained.

She added that the Kwara SAPZ Project encompasses both livestock and crop production, describing the initiative as a means to create employment opportunities for youths, stimulate the rural economy and promote a prosperous future for the people of the State through agriculture.

Urging the participants to "put their heads down and work hard" to succeed, the Commissioner praised Governor AbdulRazaq's visionary leadership for "transforming agriculture to a more productive and commercially viable sector" and "for caring about the welfare of the entire population."

Earlier, in his welcome address, the State Project Coordinator, Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project, Engr. Dr. Busari Toyin Isiaka, disclosed that Kwara SAPZ had been implementing a series of impactful training programmes for farmers, youths and women, saying that this particular training responds to Component Two of the Kwara SAPZ Project framework, which focuses on crop production and productivity.

Speaking on the significance of the training, Busari explained that the 150 participants, drawn from the five local government areas covered by the KW-SAPZ Project, namely Ifelodun, Asa, Baruten, Kaiama and Moro, would be trained to become smart farmers in their agricultural practices, including selecting appropriate high-yielding seeds, understanding the climate situation and applying good modern methods of agriculture to improve productivity.

"They have to be smart farmers. They have to be climate-smart, make informed decisions about the seeds they want to plant, get seeds that are drought-resistant, that can withstand the kind of climate we have now. In essence, they need to understand and adopt good agricultural practices to improve productivity.

"Livestock farmers have been trained. Now, it is crop farmers. We are trying to make sure that we increase our production and productivity. We do that by building the capacity of our farmers. As such, thirty farmers from each of the five LGAs of the Kwara-SAPZ Project were invited for this training. They are representatives of their respective clusters, and they have to go to their various communities to cascade what they have learnt to farmers in their clusters," he explained.

The Coordinator then charged the participants to be attentive so that they would assimilate the lessons accordingly and always be cognisant of the viability of their seeds.

Dr. Folusho Bolanke, Dr. Femi Samson, Dr. Segun Ojumonola and Dr. O. Ahmed, who were the resource persons, facilitated sessions on high-yielding seeds, crop and soil management, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), organic farming practices, integrated weed management and integrated vertebrate pest management, among other topics.

As part of the practical component of the training, the participating farmers visited the University of Ilorin Sugar Research Institute Farm, where they observed maize, rice and soybean farms for field practical exposure. The visit was aimed at increasing their knowledge of good agronomic practices, integrated pest management systems, appropriate seed-planting depth, seed testing, crop protection methods and how to apply them accordingly.

Some of the participants, who spoke on the five-day training, expressed gratitude to the State Government for providing enabling conditions for the training and commended the Kwara SAPZ SPIU (State Project Implementation Unit) for its ingenuity in making the programme a success. They pledged to put into practice the skills learnt during the training sessions and cascade the lessons to other farmers in their respective communities.

At the end of the training, participants were issued certificates of attendance.



Sangodare Ayinla
KMCO
Kwara-SAPZ Project
07033530735

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