By Dipo Olowookere
As part of efforts to enable massive food production this season, the Kwara State government has subsidized farm input to about 1000 farmers across the state to the tune of N360 million.
This amount is part of the N1 billion agriculture intervention scheme called the Off-takers Demand Driven Agric scheme (ODDA).
The scheme links small holder farmers with large Off Taker Farmers and disburses credit facilities to beneficiaries in the form of farm inputs rather than cash to encourage proper utilization of support for intended purposes and increase the impact of government intervention.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Bamidele Adegoke, while presenting seedlings, pre-emergence and post-emergence kits to farmers under the aegis of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) on Monday at the Kwara Agro Mall, Ilorin, said government was also subsidizing the farm inputs which include land clearing and tractorization of about 2500 hectares of land in different parts of the state.
The Commissioner noted that the administration of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has put in the front burner a desire to diversify the state’s economy, create agro-allied jobs and provide input for industry.
He further disclosed that the beneficiary farmers had been verified in order to ensure that the farm inputs get to genuine end users in the State.
Mr Adegoke expressed confidence that the scheme would not only empower farmers but would also create jobs and facilitate rural development.
He advised the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity to optimally utilize the state-provided inputs and boost agriculture in the state in keeping with the federal government’s drive.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka