The Kwara State Government has intensified its collaboration with the All Farmers Association of Nigeria(AFAN) and other agricultural stakeholders as part of renewed efforts to strengthen mechanised farming, improve food production and expand women participation in the state’s agricultural sector.
The renewed partnership was reaffirmed during a meeting between officials of the Kwara chapter of AFAN and the management of the Kwara State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes in Ilorin, amid growing concerns over food security, climate change and rising farming costs across Nigeria.
Speaking during the engagement, the State Project Coordinator of KWACReSAL, Shamsideen Aregbe, said the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration remained committed to supporting farmers through mechanised agriculture and climate-smart interventions designed to improve productivity and sustainability.
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“Tractorisation remains a critical component of modern agriculture. Access to farming equipment is essential for increasing productivity and addressing food security challenges across the state,” Aregbe said.
He explained that the state’s tractor support initiative was introduced following a World Bank-backed agricultural intervention and a federal directive aimed at helping farmers access mechanised equipment at affordable rates.
Aregbe acknowledged concerns raised by farmers over operational difficulties affecting some tractors distributed under the scheme, assuring stakeholders that the government had begun assessments to determine the operational status of the equipment and improve access for farming communities.
He said sustained engagement with farmers had become necessary, particularly as communities continue to grapple with flooding, transportation challenges and food supply pressures affecting agricultural output in parts of the state.
The project coordinator also emphasised the need for stronger gender inclusion within agricultural programmes, insisting that women must play central roles in food production and agricultural leadership.
“The inclusion of women is not negotiable. We must continue to encourage and support women to actively participate in agricultural programmes and leadership processes,” he added.
Chairman of AFAN in Kwara State, Shuaib Ajibola, commended KWACReSAL for ongoing interventions in the sector, describing the partnership as critical to improving farmers’ welfare and strengthening environmental sustainability initiatives across the state.
Ajibola disclosed that the association was preparing to organise an agricultural expo and wider stakeholder engagement programme following its recent inauguration activities, saying the move was intended to reconnect with farmers and improve agricultural outreach across the 16 local government areas.
He noted that previous interventions had brought together farmers, agro-processors and other stakeholders from various agricultural sectors.
The AFAN chairman also raised concerns over growing land disputes and agrarian tensions affecting farming communities in parts of Kwara, warning that unresolved ownership disagreements could threaten food production and discourage investment in agriculture.
“There is a need for sustained stakeholder dialogue and engagement to resolve disputes and ensure peaceful farming activities across communities,” Ajibola said.
Also speaking, AFAM Project Coordinator AbdulRahman Babatunde praised KWACReSAL’s support to farmers, especially in the areas of agricultural inputs and mechanised farming assistance.
According to him, farmers who participated in the programme last year received full agricultural input support, with beneficiaries already reporting improvements in crop production and farm preparation activities.
“ACReSAL provided 100 per cent agricultural inputs to participating farmers last year, and beneficiaries across communities can testify to the positive impact of the intervention,” Babatunde stated.
He added that preparations for the new planting season had already commenced, with farmers registering for support programmes, hiring tractors and clearing farmlands ahead of cultivation.
In her remarks, AFAM Women Leader Sherifat Ibrahim called for increased empowerment and technical training for women in rural communities, particularly in the operation of mechanised farming equipment.
She stressed the need for gender-friendly systems that would make tractor handling and agricultural technology more accessible to women and young farmers entering the sector.
Environmental Safeguards Officer of KWACReSAL, Abubakar Mohammed, also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to gender equality, grievance management and inclusive agricultural development.
The renewed partnership comes as several state governments across Nigeria intensify collaborations with development agencies and farmer associations to combat food inflation, improve local food production and strengthen climate-resilient agriculture.
