The State Project Coordinator, Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project, Engr. Dr. Busari Toyin Isiaka has pledged the state government’s support for farmers’ cooperatives in the state.
Dr. Busari made the commitment when he hosted members of the Agbeloba Omodara Farmers’ Cooperative at his office to explore opportunities for the association’s participation in the implementation of the Kwara SAPZ Project.
The meeting also provided an avenue for the farmers to gain a better understanding of the objectives of the project and the opportunities available to them under the initiative.
Speaking during the engagement, the State Project Coordinator explained that the Kwara SAPZ Project is livestock-based with project locations across five Local Government Areas of the state.
He said the project was designed to strengthen agricultural value chains by connecting farmers with agro-processing facilities, markets, infrastructure and other necessary support to improve productivity and enhance the livelihoods of stakeholders.
Dr. Busari stressed the importance of farmers’ organisations to the successful implementation of the project, noting that organised farmers have a critical role to play and stand to benefit from the opportunities provided by the initiative.
He also commended the administration of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq( The governor of Kwara state) for its contributions to agricultural development and other sectors of the state, saying the governor’s achievements would continue to be remembered for their positive impact on farmers.
The Coordinator further disclosed that Kwara SAPZ had organised a series of impactful training programmes for farmers across the state.
He assured the farmers’ cooperative of the government’s continued support whenever intervention was required.
Responding, the Chairman of Agbeloba Omodara Farmers’ Cooperative, Mallam Naallah Aliyu Tunde, expressed appreciation to the state government and the State Project Coordinator for the opportunity to engage with the SAPZ Project.
He said the engagement had provided the association with useful information on how its members could participate in and benefit from the initiative.
Mallam Tunde explained that Agbeloba Omodara Farmers’ Cooperative is domiciled in the Idi-Igba area of Ilorin, the state capital and has over 150 livestock and crop farmers.
He added that members of the cooperative were committed to utilising the knowledge they had acquired through various agriculture-related workshops organised by the state government.
