The Kwara State Government has intensified efforts to promote climate-resilient agriculture by training women farmers, agricultural cooperatives, small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) on climate-smart agricultural technologies under the Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project.
The sensitisation workshop, held at E-Phoenix Hotel in Ilorin, brought together women from the project’s benefiting local government areas to enhance their knowledge of climate change, emerging agricultural technologies and strategies for building resilience in farming and livestock production.
Declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Livestock Development and Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee for the Kwara SAPZ Project, Hon. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, described women as key drivers of the project’s success. She urged participants to share the knowledge gained with other women in their respective communities.
She noted that climate change continues to threaten agricultural productivity and livestock development, stressing that the SAPZ Project is promoting climate-smart farming practices to improve food security and strengthen the resilience of farmers.
The commissioner encouraged participants to embrace innovative and sustainable farming methods, adding that empowering women across the agricultural value chain would boost productivity, improve household incomes and ensure the successful implementation of the SAPZ Project.
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Engr. Dr. Busari Toyin Isiaka, said the workshop was organised to equip women with the knowledge needed to actively participate in the project. He explained that women remain central to the success of the SAPZ initiative, which aims to reduce post-harvest losses, improve food and nutrition security and transform agriculture into a modern and commercially viable sector.
He commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for supporting the implementation of the SAPZ Project in the state and expressed confidence that the training would enhance participants’ understanding of climate-smart agriculture and livestock production.
Delivering a lecture on the impact of climate change, Dr. Yusuf Sa’adat Yetunde of the Department of Crop Protection, University of Ilorin, said climate change poses serious threats to farming, food security and farmers’ incomes. She explained that climate-smart agriculture improves productivity, strengthens resilience, conserves natural resources and promotes sustainable agricultural development.
The workshop also featured an interactive question-and-answer session, allowing participants to seek clarification on key issues. Representatives of the women farmers expressed appreciation to the Kwara State Government for organising the programme and for recognising the important role of women in advancing agricultural development across the state.
