A female farmer from Oke Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mrs. Mojirayo Petu, has appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene in addressing the growing insecurity threatening farmlands and livelihoods in the area.
Mrs. Petu made the appeal during an interactive session with the Ministry of Agriculture on food security, organized by the Centre for Community Empowerment and Poverty Eradication (CCEPE) in collaboration with the Small-Scale Women Farmers Organization of Nigeria (SWOFON), as part of activities marking the 2025 World Food Day held on October 16 in Ilorin.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Petu, who represented female farmers from Oke Ero LGA, lamented the destruction of her farm by herders and their cattle.
“I appreciate the effort of the government to recognize the contribution of female farmers. But we faced a lot of challenges this farming season. The insecurity issue is a big one. Herdsmen led cattle to finish my farm. That’s why we didn’t get maize but only beans,” she said.
She also called for government support for livestock farmers within the community, noting that they equally face challenges in sustaining their livelihoods.
“We need support from the government for those rearing animals. It is not easy for them too,” she added.
In her remarks, the Kwara State representative of the Youth Farmers in Nigeria (YFIN), Aishat Taiye Shafaradeen, emphasized the need for capacity-building initiatives for farmers across the state.
She revealed that a recent test conducted by the group showed that many farmers lacked adequate knowledge of modern agricultural practices.
Responding on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Abolore Afeez, represented by the Director of Agricultural Engineering, Engr. Sani Olori, assured farmers of the government’s continued commitment to addressing their concerns.
He stated that the ministry is working to integrate the farmers’ challenges into the 2026 state budget to boost agricultural productivity and ensure food sufficiency in Kwara State.
Admin
