Agric: UK offers technical support to Kwara

The United Kingdom Trade and Investment is to set to offer technical support on agriculture to Kwara State to enable the state meet international best practices. 

The Senior Trade Development Manger of UK Trade and Investment, Miss Judy Melifonwu who disclosed this during an interaction with the State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, described Kwara State as the agriculture hub of Nigeria.

According to her, the UK Trade Investment would ensure good agricultural practices to reduce waste of agriculture produce, adding that her team was also interested in helping farmers in the State to meet the standard for export and local markets which will boost non oil earnings.

“We are bringing in expertise from around the world who have had years of experience in the UK doing this thing and so they just want to bring back that experience to Nigeria; and help develop the sector here in Kwara State”, she said.

She added that the expert in abattoirs in her team will ensure that the wastage in meat is checked as skin hides will be used as leather rather than local delicacy.

Melifonwu noted that, through the synergy with the State government and farmers, local capacities would be developed through training and technology transfer; producers and exporters will be connected with customers in the European Union countries while more foreign currency is expected to be earned by local farmers and producers.

The State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, who described the initiative as a welcome development, said it will enhance the much talked about  agriculture driven economy of the state that will impact positively on the people.

Dr Ahmed said his administration’s policy on agriculture is to create youth employment, especially through the State owned Malete youth farm and access to loan facilities, just as state government was also promoting the green house culture as part of efforts to boost commercial agriculture.