By Ola Kay
Towards improving food supply and self – sufficiency in food production in the country, the Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, has proposed the need for Nigerians and especially residents of the state to make use of available portion of land in their living homes for farming as a way of starving off immediate hunger and overcoming high cost of food items.
Mrs. Thomas dropped the advise in her office in Ilorin, the state capital on Tuesday.
She informed that the state government is currently embarking on the scheme across the local government areas, emphasizing the importance of utilizing small spaces at the backyards of the living homes to plant vegetables and other crops.
She stated that the state government, in recognition of the importance of the programme commenced a backyard farming initiative to encourage residents of the state to start farming.
She said that so far, the state government had embarked on the initiative by supporting 50 households with seedlings across the sixteen local government areas, with the aim of reaching all the households.
The Commissioner for Agriculture said: “We have strategic plans in place and have begun implementing them by training at least 50 households in each of the 16 local governments on how to effectively carry out backyard farming.
“Additionally, we are providing seeds to these households to kick-start their farming activities immediately after training.”
She added that backyard farming would significantly enhance food security and effectively serve as an alternative to the rising costs of foods in the market.
She observed that backyard farming is a realistic and sustainable approach to addressing food shortages and high cost of food prices in the country.
Continuing, she noted that, “If many households engage in this type of farming, we will see an abundant supply of food, which in turn will reduce prices and tackle hunger,” adding that the background farming practice not only ensures a healthier and richer food supply but also contributes to a safer environment.
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