The Kwara State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to embark on bulk purchase of food items directly from the farmers at profitable rates at the time of harvest and sell to the public at normal rate during scarcity to assist in checking the arbitrary increase of food prices by marketers.
The resolution followed the consideration of the House Committee on Commerce, Industry, Women Affairs and Social Development on a motion on the “the need to control high cost of food items in Kwara State”.
The motion was raised by the honourable representing Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe state constituency at the Assembly.
The chamber also urged the State Government to create employment opportunities for our teeming youth and encourage small-scale industries to discourage rural-urban migration that has been a major challenge to farming activities.
It appealed to the State Government to fashion out articulated long-term plans for development purposes with the provision of standardised storage facility as well as Weight and Measures so as to check incessant hikes in prices.
It directed the Ministry of Enterprise to as matter of urgency carry out necessary enforcement strategies on Weight and Measures to check arbitrary increases in the price of food items.
The Assembly meanwhile commended the State Government for the various programs such as the provision of Tractors, fertilizers and other farm inputs at subsidized rates for farmers in the State so as to reduce the cost of hiring of farm implements.
It commended the State Government on the recent procurement of vehicles for the Security Agencies while urging her to sustain the tempo of support for the Agencies as this will go a long way in addressing the issue of insecurity within and around the State and enable the farmers to practice unhindered