The government of Kwara State, North-Central, Nigeria has reiterated commitments to prioritise indigent farmers in the implementation of the Kwara Fadama CARES Project, even as another disbursement is under way.
The Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and State Chairman, State Technical Committee on Kwara Fadama CARES, Mr. Ishiaq Olayinka Oloruko-Oba revealed this intention at a meeting held at the Ministry premises to enhance effectiveness in the third disbursement exercise of Kwara Fadama
Oloruko-Oba stated further that the session was necessary to get the stakeholders more proactive and more transparent in the oncoming disbursement.
He, however, cautioned Heads of Departments of Agric, Desk Officers, and Local Facilitators across the sixteen LGAs in the state against inadequacy in the selection of beneficiaries during the disbursement.
The Permanent Secretary then stressed that the project is exclusively meant to stimulate the poor and vulnerable farmers following the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The State Coordinator, Kwara Fadama CARES, Engr. Dr. Busari Isiaka Toyin, maintained that “the oncoming disbursement will mark the third phase since the commencement of the project,” explaining that the platform will advance in the method and process of disbursement in the third phase, learning from the earlier disbursements so far.
Busari reminded the stakeholders that “the project is P for R” (Project for Result) and educated them that the impeccable process emphasised by Kwara Fadama CARES will make the platform obtain high rating from the Independent Verification Agent.
He also hinted that “if the Fadama CARES delivers to indigent farmers satisfactorily as underscored in the objective of the programme, Kwara will be moving in line with the declaration of emergency on the Agricultural Sector,” by Government of President Bola Tinubu.
The session also allowed the concerned stakeholders, including the representatives of farmers from the three Senatorial Zones, to ask questions for clarification on some unclear issues.
In attendance at the meeting were the Managing Director, KWARA Agricultural Development Project, Dr. (Mrs.) Khadija Alege, Director, Agric Services, Mrs. Afusat Oseni, Director, Livestock, Alhaji Mohammed Umar, and farmers and representatives of farmers who are also members of the State Technical Committee at the occasion.
Shakirat Sadiq
