Kwara State has entered a strategic partnership with Lagos to secure its share of the new ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund under the Produce for Lagos Programme, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
At a signing ceremony in Lagos, Kwara’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Afees Alabi, reiterated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to this cross-state collaboration aimed at ensuring food supply stability, price regulation, and market access.
The initiative guarantees farmers in Kwara a steady, year-round market for produce, helping to reduce post‑harvest losses—a chronic issue for smallholder farmers—and encourages greater investment across agricultural and livestock sectors.
With its extensive arable areas, Kwara is well-positioned to supply staples including rice, maize, cassava, soybeans, vegetables, poultry, dairy, fish and goat meat. The state’s enhanced transport infrastructure supports this capacity, offering year-round access to the Lagos market.
Kwara’s Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas-Adebayo, reiterated the government’s holistic approach, integrating crop and livestock production within its broader food system goals.
Under Governor AbdulRazaq’s blueprint, Kwara aims to develop into a hub for agribusiness, processing and value addition. The joint programme aligns with this ambition by linking agricultural value-chain actors with secure offtake arrangements.
Officials say the MoU will drive stakeholder mobilization across the agricultural sector to ensure tangible benefits for producers and consumers. Supporters anticipate that the initiative will stabilise supply, reduce food inflation and spur rural economic growth.
As similar pledges emerge from neighbouring states—Kogi, Niger and Ogun—Kwara’s participation signifies a growing regional commitment to cooperative food security under the national Produce for Lagos agenda.
