Kwara to become the nation’s food hub as Chinese set to invest in agriculture

The Kwara State Government has again reiterated its commitment to making the state the food hub of the country.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas made the reiteration while receiving in audience the delegation of China-Africa Economic and Trade Council and representative of the organized Private Sector in Ilorin, the state capital.

The Commissioner disclosed that the investors’ visit was a result of the state government’s investment drive in the agricultural sector.

According to her, the state government had earlier sent a delegation to China with some other Nigerians on policies reform, tax policies, and learning about various reforms the People’s Republic of China had undergone, which have gotten them to where they are today.

Mrs. Thomas explained further that the State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has directed the Ministry to share with the Chinese investors all the challenges facing the sector and bring them in with other relevant bodies, to form synergy in addressing the identified problems with a view to achieving sustainable development in the agricultural sector.

“The challenges starting with inputs, production, processing, market linkage, as well as the entire value chain operations. On this note, the delegation decided to visit Rice Farmers at Shonga, Valentine Chicken, Rice Farmers at Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of the State, the Industrial Park under construction, Fertilizer blender and the Rice Miller Factory”.

On his part, the leader of the Chinese investors, Mr. Zhensheng Li said the main purpose of their visit to the various sections of agricultural value chain in the state is to know how best to solve the already identified challenges in terms of inputs, machines and other farm equipments to achieve efficient operations.

The representative of the organized private sector, Mr. Nicholas Igwe disclosed that the body is willing to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Kwara State Government in the quest to transform the agricultural sector.

Igwe hinted that the body is already working in the six geopolitical zones and is ready to invest massively in order to bring sustainability, efficiency, and economic growth to the state and the nation at large.