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Kwara to Invest in Irrigation System to Boost Food Production

In a bid to arrest rising food costs, the Kwara State Government has announced plans to invest in irrigation systems to boost food production in the state.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Adebayo-Thomas, disclosed this at the state inter-ministerial press briefing held at the Ministry of Communication in Ilorin, the state capital.

She highlighted the shift towards sustainable land and water management, focusing on irrigation and drainage to address challenges such as land degradation, deforestation, and climate change.

“Climate change is one of the prevailing environmental problems in the world that has gained universal discussion in recent times because of its multiple effects.

“These effects have also metamorphosed into some impacts such as the decline in agricultural activities, drought, migration, health problems, erosion, hunger, and poverty, among others.

“By investing in irrigation infrastructure and technology, the state government is expecting to achieve greater food security, reduce poverty, create employment opportunities for Kwarans, and reduce food prices in the state,” she said.

Thomas also revealed that the state is planning to plant trees on 11,000 hectares of land in Lata community  Pategi LGA to combat climate change devastation.

She said the tree planting campaign was in collaboration with the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) and the World Bank program.

“The exercise will enable various communities to protect their environment as well as become climate-smart,” she added.

Thomas further disclosed that the state is planning to train farmers on organic farming and discourage the use of fertilizer in food production.

 

 

Dare Akogun

Dare Akogun is a dynamic media innovator, strategic communication professional, and seasoned climate and environmental sustainability journalist with over 10 years of influential contributions to the media industry.

He Currently serving as the Head of Digital Media, Senior News Editor, and a presenter at Sobi FM 101.9, a leading radio station in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Dare is on a mission to leverage his media innovation expertise and project management skills to produce high-quality, accurate, and engaging content, while advocating for reduced fossil fuel consumption, especially coal, to combat effect of global warming.

He has covered comprehensively environmental issues and COP conferences, including COP28 in Dubai last year , COP 27 in Egypt, and the United Nations Least Developed Countries conference in Doha, in 2023.

He is a recipient of fellowship to be part of a 15 team of journalists selected worldwide to cover the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue 2024.

He has a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, from the University of Lagos, a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the Lagos State University and also a
Certification in Business Administration and Management, from the Babson College, Massachusetts, United States of America.

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