The Kwara State Government has launched the distribution of additional agricultural inputs, productive assets and processing equipment to 49,337 farmers and vulnerable households under the FADAMA CARES 2.0 programme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 235,567.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq flagged off the distribution on Monday in Ilorin as part of efforts to improve agricultural productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen food security and increase farmers’ incomes across the state.
The initiative is implemented under the World Bank-supported Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme, which provides support to vulnerable households and farmers to improve their livelihoods and economic resilience.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, AbdulRazaq acknowledged the challenges confronting farmers, including high input costs, unpredictable weather conditions, inadequate equipment and difficulties associated with transporting and processing agricultural produce.
He said the government was committed to addressing these challenges by providing farmers with the necessary resources to improve production, minimise losses and increase their earnings.
According to the Governor, 186,230 beneficiaries had previously received support under the programme, comprising 54,332 people who benefited from inputs and services and 131,898 who received productive and processing assets across 10 agricultural value chains.
He explained that the latest phase would support an additional 49,337 beneficiaries through the distribution of agricultural inputs and productive assets, including group assets designed to support collective farming and processing activities.
The items earmarked for distribution include rice, maize and soybean production inputs, knapsack sprayers, water pumps, power tillers, grinding machines and rice mills. Other equipment includes cassava processing machines, fish-smoking kilns and commercial boats.
The Governor said the intervention was designed to help farmers increase production, reduce waste, improve processing, access wider markets and earn better incomes, while creating opportunities for women and young people in the agricultural value chain.
He congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to regard the inputs and equipment as investments in their livelihoods rather than handouts. He also acknowledged the contributions of stakeholders whose support had helped advance agricultural development in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Livestock, who supervises the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Olohuntoyosi Thomas, disclosed that the state government had deployed 48 tractors and two D&R Caterpillar bulldozers to support farming activities and expand agricultural mechanisation across the 16 local government areas.
Thomas added that 2,016 farmers in the state had received 8,064 bags of NPK fertiliser through the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Farm Input Support Programme.
She commended development partners, private-sector investors, farmers’ associations and traditional institutions for their contributions to the growth of the agricultural sector.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the State NG-CARES Steering Committee, Dr Hauwa Nuru, described Kwara as one of the leading states in programme delivery and reimbursement.
She said the initiative reflected the state government’s commitment to empowering farmers, improving livelihoods, strengthening food security and promoting sustainable economic growth.
The State Project Coordinator of FADAMA NG-CARES, Dr Busari Toyin Isiaka, explained that FADAMA CARES 2.0 was the agricultural component of NG-CARES, supported by the World Bank through additional financing.
He said the programme was designed to improve agricultural production, minimise post-harvest losses, enhance food security and increase the incomes of beneficiaries.
Isiaka listed the items for distribution as rice, maize and soybean production inputs, alongside productive and processing assets such as knapsack sprayers, water pumps, power tillers, grinding machines, rice mills, cassava processing equipment, fish-smoking kilns and commercial boats.
He added that the combination of production inputs and processing equipment would help beneficiaries improve their farming operations and derive greater value from their agricultural produce.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the Federated FADAMA Community Association (FFCA), Alhaji Isiaka Yakub Falala, commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his administration’s commitment to transforming the agricultural sector and supporting farmers across Kwara State.
The latest intervention underscores the state’s efforts to strengthen agricultural value chains, expand access to productive assets and improve the livelihoods of farming households as part of its broader food security agenda.
