Food Security: Legislator Distributes 4500 Fertilizers, Pumping Machines in Kwara


A member of the Red Chamber in the National Assembly, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, and Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has flagged off the distribution of 4,500 bags of 50kg fertilizers and 1000 modern pumping machines to farmers across the four local government areas he represents.

Speaking on the sidelines of the exercise, Mustapha explained that the gesture was aimed to enhance the drive towards food security and sustainability in the district, adding that it was the first phase of an embedded broader strategy to boost the sector.

During the distribution of the farm inputs, which took place at the playing ground of Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin, the State capital, the lawmaker assured the people that more farmers would benefit from the scheme in the second phase of the distribution exercise.

He said the scheme tagged: “Empowering Kwara Central Farmers: Unlocking self- sufficiency in food production,” is aimed at supporting agricultural productivity and improve crop yields for local farmers.

“The impact of climate change and over cultivation of farm land has negatively affected the quality of the soil for farming. This has resulted in lower yield of crop produce.

"Meanwhile, the distribution of such a significant quantity of fertilizers demonstrates a substantial investment in the agricultural sector, reflecting a commitment to enhancing food security and supporting the livelihood of farmers to boost food production in the state", Mustapha noted.

The Kwara lawmaker, therefore, used the opportunity to reel out his achievements in office in the last one year as a legislator to include facilitating the reconstruction of one kilometer asphaltic road opposite Al-Hikmah University leading to Oke-Foma link road in Ilorin West local government area.

He added that solar-powered motorised boreholes and street lights were also installed across the four local government areas of the senatorial district to complement the state government’s effort in ensuring that the people have access to safe water.

The Senator also revealed that over 3000 students benefitted from his JAMB and WAEC scholarship scheme recently. This is apart from facilitating employment opportunities for over 20 indigenes of the district at the federal level.

He then commended the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Federal Government led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their investments in the agric sector in the state and the country at large, as he pledged sustainable collaborations with them to ensure food security.