Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Kwara State Government has embarked on agricultural transformation initiative aimed at boosting livestock production and rural development across the State.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin on Thursday, the State Coordinator of the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), Engineer Dr. Busari Isiaka, said the SAPZ project is funded through a $57.2 million partnership between the state government and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Saudi Arabia, to establish a robust infrastructure for investors and local farmers in beef and milk processing.

Engineer Isiaka, who emphasised the significance of the project, noted that it is the first time a sitting Governor is serving as the Chairman of a steering committee for such an undertaking.

“For you to understand the importance of this project, it is a five-year initiative with joint funding from the state government and IsDB. Other states of the federation receive their support from the African Development Bank. Kwara is pioneering this collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank”, he said.

He also said that Kwara State’s early commitment to the project was evident in its swift payment of counterpart funds, making it the first State to fulfil its financial obligations, adding that the prompt action had allowed the State to progress significantly.

“The initiative is primarily focused on improving agricultural infrastructure, particularly in the livestock sector. With a core objective of enhancing livelihoods of rural communities. The SAPZ project will give special attention to youth and women while promoting food and nutritional security. It is designed to provide sustainable solutions for livestock farmers by ensuring they have access to modern processing facilities,” he added.

Engineer Isiaka, who said that the project is being implemented in five local government areas: Ifelodun, Kaiama, Baruten, Asa, and Moro, added that it will feature Agricultural Transformation Centres, “where local farmers can process raw materials such as milk before they are transported to an agro-industrial hub in Malete, Moro local government area, for further processing into dairy products like yogurt and cheese.

“The beef value chain will also be integrated into the project, with necessary facilities to support meat processing.

“To ensure a smooth execution, we conducted extensive environmental assessments and community consultations. We have profiled over 5,000 beneficiaries, ensuring that the infrastructure we are providing meets their needs, including access to potable water”, he said.

He said the project, currently in its design phase, is expected to transition into full infrastructure development later this year.

“By God’s grace, this year we will commence the construction of these facilities. The design phase will be completed in three months, after which contractors will take over”, he said.

The SAPZ State Coordinator said that the state government has also engaged consultants to attract both local and international investors to the project.

“The goal of the Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) is to reduce agricultural wastage and enhance value addition. Kwara is positioning itself as a leader in livestock processing, and this initiative will ensure that our farmers benefit immensely”, he added.

Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Stresses Shift Towards Agricultural Wealth Generation

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

In a bid to improve food production and support farmers, the Federal Government (FG) has distributed over 2.1 million bags of fertilizer to farmers across the country. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is also providing food aid to communities affected by floods.

During the 5th Meeting of the Lake Chad Basin Governors Forum held in Maiduguri, Borno State, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized the need for Nigeria’s agricultural sector to shift from simply feeding the population to generating wealth.

Kyari stated, “We must increase productivity through research, climate-resilient seeds, soil health improvement, and smart agriculture. These efforts will help us transition from a food security approach to one that generates wealth for the country.”

Key Initiatives and Technological Advancements

To further improve transparency and efficiency, Kyari revealed that the Ministry is developing a biometric-based farmer registration system in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This system aims to ensure that targeted interventions reach the intended beneficiaries, helping to streamline agricultural support.

Kyari’s leadership in agriculture also extends to onion production, where the Minister took action against a potential 40% shortfall in production caused by the distribution of adulterated seeds. Following an emergency meeting with the National Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association of Nigeria (NOPPMAN), it was revealed that a NOPPMAN member was responsible for supplying the substandard seeds. The guilty party has been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for investigation.

Impact of Initiatives on the Agricultural Sector

Kyari’s actions have been widely praised as a proactive and bold approach to tackling the issues facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector. His efforts are seen as pivotal in positioning Nigeria to take full advantage of its agricultural potential, particularly in onion production. Nigeria is the 7th largest onion producer globally and the 3rd largest in Africa, contributing approximately 4.3% of global onion production.

Key production hubs for onions are located in states like Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Sokoto, Plateau, Bauchi, and Kebbi, with onion farming emerging as a lucrative business venture. The Minister’s intervention is expected to boost Nigeria’s onion production even further, solidifying the country’s role as a major player in the global onion market.

Future Prospects for Nigeria’s Agricultural Growth

Experts predict that Kyari’s focus on smart agriculture, climate-resilient seeds, and soil health will propel Nigeria’s agricultural sector towards substantial growth. As the country’s agricultural output accounts for 87.6% of the total sector’s contribution, these efforts could significantly enhance both food security and the economic prosperity of Nigerian farmers.

With continuous support and strategic interventions, the Minister’s approach is expected to revolutionize Nigeria’s agricultural landscape and ensure that the sector plays a central role in wealth generation for the nation.

▪︎ Govt donates relief materials as victims lose huge farmlands to flood

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Kwara State Government delegation has visited Shonga in Edu Local Government Area of the state to establish the causes of the unusual flooding that submerged rice farmlands stretching thousands of hectares.

Led by the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCoS) Princess Bukola Babalola, the delegation also delivered relief materials worth millions of naira for the farmers in the affected community, Tada.

The delegation on Sunday visited the Emir of Shonga Dr. Haliru Yahya Ndanusa and the victims at Tada.

Other members of the delegation were the Chairman House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture Saba Gideon; Honourable Commissioners for Agriculture, Water Resources, Environment, Youth; Special Adviser on Special Duties; SSA Security to the Governor; Chairman Edu Local Government Area Abdullahi Bello; Secretary Kwara State Emergency Management Agency; a director in the Office of the Secretary to the State Government; and General Manager of Kwara State Social Investment Programme.

DCoS Babalola assured the victims that the government would offer assistance to the farmers to cushion the effect of the flooding on their farms.

“We are here to see the damage done to the farms, especially the rice farms in Tada community. We have seen what happened and we are taking the message back to His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to see what can be done to remedy the situation — immediate and future remedies — and avert loss of lives and farmlands,” she told reporters on the sideline of the visit.

“Also, a lot of farmers are crying here that they need a lot of support. We have heard their complaints, and help is on the way.”

Babalola thanked residents of the community for their cooperation and understanding, saying the government cares for their well-being and would support them, including establishing the causes of the flooding.

Emir of Shonga Dr Halidu Yahya Ndanusa expressed sadness over the incident, saying the flooding could affect food security in the state.

He urged the state government to carry out thorough investigation to get the cause of the “unusual” flooding at this time.

“From here up to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Mali, there was no rain. The Sahel is dry. How can there be a flood here? The source of this flood must be local,” he said.

“We have asked from Kainji Dam, and they said it wasn’t from them. But Jebba Dam could not deny it. In fact, they said they would soon close it. We spent several years attracting people to this place. We hope this will not happen again next year to avert food insecurity.

“His Excellency has spoken to me, and he took it very seriously. I didn’t expect this delegation again, given his interventions already. We are very grateful to him for his concern and for sending this powerful delegation.

“It is very important that we get to the roots of the matter. If it is true that Jebba Dam released water, what was the reason, and who authorised it?”

Muhammad Abdulkadir, a Tada community leader, disclosed that several farmlands were submerged due to the flooding.

“Our farmers here came from different states in the north. We have farmers from Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, and Niger State, and they have lost millions of naira worth of rice farms to this flooding,” he said.

“We definitely need government’s assistance. When there was no flooding, we realised over 3m metric tonnes of rice here annually.

“We thank the government for coming to our aid immediately. This should not end here. We want the government to find the permanent solution to perennial flooding in this axis. The permanent solution is to dredge the River Niger.”