The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Production Services and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha, has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting farmers through initiatives to increase agricultural productivity and strengthen Nigeria’s food security.
Speaking in Ilorin during the distribution of farm inputs worth ₦1.5 billion to smallholder farmers in Kwara State, the senator said sustained investment in agriculture remains essential to boosting food production and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
The intervention included the distribution of 5,000 bags of NPK fertiliser, 2,500 bags of urea fertiliser, 1,000 knapsack sprayers, 250 power tillers, and 500 water pumps to support farming activities during the current planting season.
The programme targeted a wide range of beneficiaries, including members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), the Kwara State Association of Fish Farmers, the AMANA Farmers Association of Nigeria, the Nigerian Women for Agricultural Progress, the Nigeria Association of Women in Agriculture, the agriculture section of the Kwara State Chamber of Commerce, individual farmers, and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) engaged in farming across Kwara Central Senatorial District.
Represented by the Director-General of his constituency office, Alhaji Adebayo Ambali, Senator Mustapha said the intervention forms part of his commitment to supporting farmers and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He explained that the programme was designed to ensure farmers receive timely access to critical agricultural inputs needed to improve crop yields, increase productivity, and expand food production.
According to him, the intervention complements the Federal Government’s efforts under President Bola Tinubu’s administration to achieve national food security through increased agricultural output.
Mustapha urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the fertilisers and farm equipment to maximise production during the current farming season.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to implementing programmes that improve the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities across his constituency.
Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Kwara State, Shuaibu Ajibola Salman, commended Senator Mustapha for consistently supporting farmers through his position as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture.
He described the intervention as timely, noting that improved access to quality farm inputs would enable farmers to increase production and contribute to efforts to address food insecurity.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kwara State, Mallam Soliu Mohammed, praised the senator for ensuring rice farmers continue to benefit from agricultural support programmes.
He said the distribution of fertilisers and farm equipment would help improve rice production and strengthen food supply in the state.
The event formed part of ongoing efforts to improve access to agricultural inputs for smallholder farmers, reduce production constraints, and support increased food production across Kwara State.
