The Kwara State Comprehensive Agricultural Master Plan will be ready soon to guide the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq administration’s policy direction on agriculture as the world prepares for post-COVID-19 economy.
Adenike Afolabi-Oshatimehin, commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development made this known while speaking on the side-line of the just concluded 2020 budget review session.
Afola-Oshatimehin says the master plan would capture various engagements the state has had with stakeholders in the sector and experiences from other climes.
“The plan is to utilise the heavily untapped agricultural potentials in Kwara as a major instrument to stimulate economic growth, create massive decent jobs among youth and women, accelerate rural development and ensure food security in the state between 2020 and 2025,” she said in a statement.
She stated that the master plan will revolutionise the sector, create thousands of jobs for the people, and develop the grassroots.
“Though delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kwara State Agricultural Master-plan would be available soon. It is going to be a robust data-based plan that gives clear developmental roadmap for various aspects of agriculture in the state,” she said.
“The focus of the master plan includes; improved/mechanised crop farming across the state through well-galvanised out-grower schemes leveraging on cooperation with existing and new farmers (smallholder and commercial farmers), energetic youth populace and rural women across the states.”
Others are appreciable investments in livestock and fishery which are already a critical part of the National Livestock Transformation Plan which Kwara is tapping into, the commissioner said.
She added that agro-processing zones, revamp of moribund agro-processing factories and opening up of new agro-processing companies by harnessing of various national, regional, and global funds initiatives and partnership with the private sector will also be included in the plan.
Similarly, access to market for locally produced agro-commodities through – local content policies to ensure Kwarans patronise agro-commodities produced in Kwara; and inter-state market partnership and export to global communities through bilateral trade partnerships with multinational food processing companies, global trade broking companies and governments will be the focus of the plan.
She stated that access to Finance for farmers and agro-processors in the state; and partnership with local and global financiers/financial institutions to ensure aggressive funding for agriculture in Kwara will be focused on in the plan.
The commissioner explained that the crafting of the Kwara State Agricultural Master plan is being fast-tracked, describing it as a game-changer to achieve food security, improve living standard, enhance rural development, and other economic benefits for the state.
