The Kwara State Government has launched a school-based farming initiative with the distribution of 14,180 economic tree seedlings to 255 schools across the state.
The seedlings—cocoa, cashew, oil palm, and orange—were supplied to 80 primary schools, 170 secondary schools, and five tertiary institutions under the Federal Government's Food System Transformation Pathways programme.
Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Mary Ronke Arinde, explained that the project is designed to integrate agriculture into learning, build a culture of food production from a young age, and prepare future agripreneurs who can drive small and medium-scale agribusinesses.
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The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Abolore Alabi, noted that beyond food production, the project will promote home gardens and support local processing industries. He urged schools to nurture the seedlings carefully to ensure long-term value creation in the agricultural value chain.
Education Commissioner, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, added that the initiative will expose students to hands-on farming, which could stimulate career pathways in agritech, food processing, and agro-exports.
Industry stakeholders say the project opens opportunities for SMEs in input supply, extension services, nursery development, logistics, and food processing. By linking schools with agriculture, Kwara is not only addressing food security but also laying the foundation for future agribusiness clusters that can contribute to job creation and economic growth.
