Daily Trust - the online edition

The public hearing for Kwara state Agriculture commodity Board Bill, 2007 is to come up on Friday at the state House of Assembly.

A statement by the secretary to the House committee on Agricultural and Natural Resources, Alhaji S. koro stated that stakeholders of the agric sector, non-governmental organizations, trade, unions and among others are expected to turn up and make meaningful contribution to perfect the bill.

The bill is out to enact a law to establish the Kwara State Agricultural Commodity Board charged with responsibility for the purchase of agricultural produce from farmers and other matters connected therewith.

A among other functions the board is expected to play are to promote agricultural production, purchase farm produce from farmers at reasonable price, sell farm produce at reasonable price and encourage farmers on continuous production.

It would also make available farming implements, seeds, seedlings, fertilizer, and agro chemicals, machines, etc, initiate programmed to encourage higher productivity, sensitize farmer on modern trends and assist farmers in all necessary ways.

Speaking on the bill, chairman House committee on Agriculture and Natural resources, Hon. Alhassan, Bagidi (kaima/kemanji/wajibe) said the government would be handy to assist farmers financially in event of farm produce damage or loss occasioned by fire, lighting, windstorm, flood, drought, pests and other such disasters.

The lawmaker stressed that the Board would purchase farm equipments or implements that are essential for storage, adding that it would also ensure that farm produce purchased are not substandard.

According to him it would be the prerogative of the Board to ensure that all produce are exportable quality and obtain export license where necessary.

He reiterated that the law has to be fine-turned to accommodate every necessary aspect of produce marketing for the benefit of producers and buyers alike.