Kwara to Establish Farm Produce Board

• Kwara to Establish Farm Produce Board

The Kwara State Government has approved the establishment of the Farm Produce Commodity Board that will be private sector-driven.

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, who spoke through the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Babatunde Ajeigbe, said on Wednesday that the approval came from the State Executive Council.

Ahmed said the commodity board would ensure marketing and control of agricultural produce in the state, adding that it would boost agribusiness in the state.

He said the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), would send an executive bill to the Kwara State House of Assembly for the formal establishment of the board.

Ahmed said, “The council met and gave approval for the establishment of the Farm Produce Commodity Board, which will be private sector-driven.

“This board is aimed at assisting the commodity produce of this state in the areas of marketing and control. It is one of the organs aimed at assisting or complimenting efforts of our off-takers’ demand-driven agriculture. It is set up to also promote the agribusiness and to be shaped along the line of the commodity boards of the 1980s but would be revamped in line with current realities.”

He said the Kwara State Executive Council also approved the monitoring and evaluation policy of all activities carried out by Ministries, Departments Agencies.

“The Ministry of Planning is charged with implementation of that policy to ensure that it is enshrined with a view to keeping a tap on the programmes to help us with review and success of these programmes,” he said.