The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) on Monday presented farm inputs and cash to 5,000 rural farmers in Kwara State as part of efforts to cushion the effects of the dry-season farming disaster suffered by residents.

Speaking during the distribution in Ilorin, the Managing Director of the commission, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, said the farmers were assisted with power tillers, planters and other farm equipment, adding that the state government complemented the intervention with improved maize seedlings, fertilisers and agrochemicals.

Yelwa, who said the commission had also earmarked ₦10 million for 100 indigent farmers recently affected by natural disasters in some agrarian communities in the state, said the distribution of the relief materials was aimed at fulfilling the commission’s earlier promise to assist farmers whose farmlands and crops were destroyed during the dry season.

He recalled that HYPPADEC had sympathised with the affected communities at the time of the incident and assured them of support to cushion the impact of their losses.

“We are here today to distribute relief items to communities affected during the dry season, where many farmers lost their farmlands and crops. We promised them, and today we are fulfilling that promise,” Yelwa said.

He also applauded the state government for providing hybrid maize seeds for distribution to farmers across the five local government areas covered by the programme.

He described the initiative as a significant step towards improving agricultural productivity and enhancing farmers’ livelihoods.

According to him, the government’s intervention would encourage improved productivity among farmers, create wealth and contribute to food security in the state.

“We felt it was important to appreciate the state government for this initiative and encourage it to continue supporting farmers. This is not only beneficial to the state but also to the farmers and their families,” he said.

On the cost of the intervention, Yelwa said the commission had committed about ₦100 million to the relief exercise, adding that ₦10 million was earmarked for distribution among 100 farmers whose farmlands were affected, while the relief materials were valued at about ₦90 million at the time of purchase.

“What is important is that the government is thinking about its people and supporting farmers. That is the real investment,” he said.

Also speaking, the Supervising Commissioner for Agriculture in Kwara, Mrs Toyosi Thomas, said the partnership between HYPPADEC and the state government would boost agricultural productivity and improve farmers’ yields.

The commissioner described the initiative as a demonstration of effective collaboration between the commission, the state government and local government councils in supporting farmers.

She added that the beneficiaries would benefit from extension services to ensure proper utilisation of the inputs and adoption of improved farming practices.

“It is not common for farmers to receive mechanisation support, production inputs and extension services together. This collaboration is expected to deliver meaningful results,” she said.

The commissioner also said the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture was supporting 7,500 farmers with fertilisers, while 2,000 farmers would benefit from the state’s Special Maize Programme.

She explained that the programme was designed as a holistic intervention, providing mechanisation support, technical extension services, production inputs and an off-take arrangement with flour mills.

The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Abubakar Abdullai, advised the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the intervention by adopting improved farming practices and maximising the use of the hybrid seeds.

He said Kwara had enormous agricultural potential, noting that maize could be cultivated twice annually, while rice could be grown up to three times a year because of the state’s favourable conditions.

“There are buyers waiting for the harvest. The opportunity is there, and it is now up to the farmers to make the most of it and become successful commercial farmers,” he said.