The Kwara State Government says it is set to cultivate 250 hectares of land for 2017 Off-Takers Demand Driven Agriculture exercise (ODDA).
The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Goke Bamidele disclosed when he inspected arable farmland at Ejidonugari in Moro Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.
Bamidele said that the exercise was geared towards boosting food production and improving the living standards of the people.
”The major purpose of this exercise is to earmark 250 hectares of land for the 2017 Off-Takers Demand Driven Agriculture exercise across the state.
“The farm land was identified by the Kwara State House of Assembly members, who desire to participate in the ODDA scheme as a group.
“We are here to verify that the land indeed exists and that is the starting point and also to make the land available to farmers.
“This is because we want to make life easier for our people by alleviating poverty through farming, so as to improve their standards of living”, he said.
In his remark, the Special Adviser to the governor on Agriculture and Rural Water Support Services, Mr Anu Ibiwoye, said that the scheme would not only empower local indigenes and create jobs but fast track rural development.
Ibiwoye added that it was necessary to put in place all necessary amenities before proper cultivation at the start of the 2017 farming season.
He said that the farmland needed light clearing with the use of tractors to plough before it will be fit for farming.
“I encourage young farmers to use the opportunity created by the Kwara Government in the ODDA scheme, which includes provision of seedlings, fertilisers, chemicals and other farming tools to boost production”, he advised.
The special adviser further urged cooperative groups and other interested farmers to sign up for participation in the Scheme.