The Kwara State Government has strengthened its partnership with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and other agricultural stakeholders to advance mechanised farming, environmental sustainability and women inclusion across the state.
The renewed commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Kwara State chapter of AFAN to the Kwara State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes in Ilorin.
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Communication Officer of KWACReSAL, Okanlawon Taiwo, a copy of which was made available to The PUNCH in Ilorin.
Speaking during the meeting, the State Project Coordinator of KWACReSAL, Shamsideen Aregbe, assured farmers of the state government’s continued support toward improving food production, mechanised agriculture and climate resilience.
He said, “Tractorisation remains a critical component of modern agriculture. Access to farming equipment is essential for increasing productivity and addressing food security challenges across the state.”
He explained that the tractor support initiative introduced last year followed a World Bank-backed intervention and presidential directive aimed at supporting farmers with mechanised farming equipment.
Aregbe acknowledged concerns raised about operational challenges affecting some tractors, assuring stakeholders that efforts were ongoing to determine the condition and operational status of the equipment to enable effective utilisation by farmers.
“We must sustain engagement with farming communities, particularly in addressing challenges relating to flooding, agricultural logistics and food security,” he added.
The project coordinator also stressed the need for gender equality and inclusion in agricultural interventions across the state.
“The inclusion of women is not negotiable. We must continue to encourage and support women to actively participate in agricultural programmes and leadership processes,” he stated.
Earlier, the Chairman of AFAN in Kwara State, Shuaib Ajibola, commended KWACReSAL for its interventions in the agricultural sector, reaffirming the association’s readiness to collaborate on programmes aimed at improving farmers’ welfare and environmental sustainability.
Ajibola disclosed that the association planned to commence an agricultural expo and stakeholder engagement programme across the state following its recent inauguration activities to reconnect with farmers and strengthen agricultural outreach.
“Previous editions of the interventions covered the 16 local government areas of the state and involved stakeholders from different agricultural sectors,” he said.
The AFAN chairman also raised concerns over land use disputes and other agrarian issues affecting farmlands, noting that the development had created anxiety among some farming communities regarding land ownership and rights.
“There is a need for sustained stakeholder dialogue and engagement to resolve disputes and ensure peaceful farming activities across communities,” Ajibola added.
Also speaking, the Project Coordinator of AFAM, AbdulRahman Babatunde, applauded KWACReSAL for its support to farmers, especially in the area of agricultural inputs and mechanised farming.
“ACReSAL provided 100 per cent agricultural inputs to participating farmers last year, and beneficiaries across communities can testify to the positive impact of the intervention,” Babatunde said.
He disclosed that farming activities for the current planting season had already commenced, with farmers actively registering, hiring tractors and preparing their farmlands.
In her remarks, the AFAM Women Leader, Sherifat Ibrahim, advocated increased empowerment and technical training for women in rural communities to enable them to actively participate in mechanised farming.
“There is a need for gender-friendly operational systems and practical training that will make tractor handling easier and more accessible for women and young learners involved in agricultural programmes,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Safeguards Officer of KWACReSAL, Mr Abubakar Mohammed, reaffirmed the project’s commitment to gender equality, women’s inclusion and effective grievance management across all project activities.
The renewed collaboration comes amid growing efforts by the Kwara state government to improve food production and strengthen climate-smart agriculture through partnerships with farmer associations, development agencies and international organisations.
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