KWSG Supports 2,000 Maize Farmers With Improved Seeds, Farm Inputs, other

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The Kwara State Government has supported 2,000 maize farmers with improved drought-resistant maize seeds, herbicides, pesticides, NPK and urea fertilizers, extension services and a guaranteed off-take of their produce upon harvest under a strategic partnership with Flour Mills of Nigeria.

The initiative, according to the Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, adopts a value-chain approach by supporting farmers from production through to marketing, ensuring higher productivity, increased incomes and reliable market access.

She further explained that the programme is intentionally designed to boost maize production and reinforce Kwara State's position as a leading hub for agricultural development.

As part of the initiative, the Commissioner explained that the Ministry, in partnership with Flour Mills of Nigeria, trained Agricultural Extension Officers and Heads of Department of Agriculture from the 16 Local Government Areas on the cultivation of the PAC 105 maize variety, a high-yielding, drought-resistant hybrid with strong tolerance to diseases and changing weather conditions. 

She emphasized that the variety was selected for its adaptability to local conditions and its potential to deliver higher yields under varying climatic conditions.

Speaking on the significance of the initiative, the Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said the intervention reflects the commitment of the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to expanding farmers' access to improved technologies, quality agricultural inputs and reliable market access.

She explained that, beyond receiving improved seeds and other production inputs, beneficiaries would benefit from continuous extension services throughout the production cycle, while the off-take arrangement with Flour Mills of Nigeria would guarantee a ready market for their produce upon harvest. 

She noted that the training had equipped extension personnel with the capacity to provide timely technical guidance to farmers, ensuring the effective adoption of the improved production practices.

The Commissioner, who was represented at the training by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Funke Sokoya, added that the Ministry is prioritizing farming communities affected by banditry in the implementation of its agricultural interventions to enable farmers to return to their farms and rebuild their livelihoods. 

She further disclosed that plans are underway for dry season farming to promote year-round agricultural production and reinforce food security in the state.

Mrs Thomas reaffirmed the commitment of the AbdulRazaq-led administration to implementing farmer-centred programmes and strategic partnerships that enhance productivity, improve rural livelihoods and position Kwara State as a leading hub for sustainable agricultural development.

She encouraged maize farmers to take full advantage of the initiative by embracing the improved production practices and extension services provided, noting that the success of the intervention would depend on beneficiaries applying the recommended agronomic practices and making judicious use of the inputs and extension services provided

The training, held at the Ministry's headquarters in Ilorin, was facilitated by the Value Chain Manager of Flour Mills of Nigeria, Mr. Kolawole Amos, who took participants through agronomic requirements for the successful cultivation of the improved PAC 105 maize variety.

Beyond the classroom session, participants also took part in a practical field demonstration on recommended planting techniques, appropriate fertilizer application, plant spacing and other best agronomic practices required to achieve optimum yield. 

The practical exercise equipped the Agricultural Extension Officers and Heads of Department of Agriculture with the technical knowledge required to guide farmers in the successful cultivation of the PAC 105 maize variety across their respective Local Government Areas.

Ashaolu Omotola
Press Secretary
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
08109057777

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