A Fertilizers blending plant which is capable of producing 150 tonnes of fertiliser per hour and due for completion in 2022 is currently under construction in Kwara State, according to the Technical Assistant to the governor on Agriculture, Abdulquowy Olododo.
“Agriculture is very broad now. We plan to create Agri-allied industries. Through the industry, processed foods would be done, farmers can access buyers easily. Also, we now have ‘Fertilizers blending plant’, along Ogbondokoro and it would be due for completion by next year. This plant can produce 150tonnes of fertiliser per hour,” Olododo said while speaking on Sobi 101.9FM on the roles of the state government in supporting smallholding farmers and boosting food security.
“We started this year with a document called agricultural ‘Transformation plan’. It was launched by the Governor in January this year. The government has been giving out loans after a proper verification of farmers. There other supports the government has given; eg subsidising the cost of production.”
He explained that the Governor’s effort to mechanise farming in the state prompted him to make tractors and bulldozers available to farmers at subsidised rates.
He added that the administration is launching a statewide irrigation scheme across local governments in the state.
“On livestock farming. Over the years we have been having farmers/herders clash in Nigeria. Because our Governor is proactive, he didn’t wait for the crises to rise in Kwara. He established a program called ‘Dairy development program. The state government has partnered with Cowbell Nigeria, to get milk from herders in the state. The herders are also being grouped into cooperatives so as to ascertain sustainability of the initiative,” he said.
Olododo, however, said that the governor needs people’s support to provide more initiative for the betterment of the state.
