Kwara Rice Farmers Lament Delay in Agro-pockets Initiative

Date: 2024-10-23

According to a news report from Leadership, rice farmers in Kwara State have expressed their disappointment and frustration over the delay in the supply of agricultural inputs through the Agro-pockets initiative, which was approved for them by the federal government, as reported by Leadership.

The initiative, designed to support small-scale farmers, has been hindered by the failure of some agro dealers contracted by the government to deliver the inputs.

The coordinator of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kwara State, Malam Mohammed Salihu, spoke on behalf of the affected farmers, highlighting the difficulties they are facing due to the delay. The farmers are eager to receive the necessary inputs to enhance their productivity and meet the demands of the market.

Salihu, who spoke exclusively with LEADERSHIP in Ilorin, Kwara State capital said: “We're disturbed by the delay in the supply of the inputs by some agro dealers to the beneficiaries as planned.”

He, however, praised the federal and Kwara State governments for approving the agricultural inputs for 2000 rice farmers in the state, saying that the inputs will improve food production and ensure food security in the country.

He called for the introduction of a strategy devoid of bureaucratic bottleneck to ensure timely delivery of the inputs and get rid of wrong beneficiaries.

Salihu appealed to the federal government to incorporate indigenous agro-dealers in the supply of the inputs or channel the inputs through the commodity association to ensure efficiency in implementing the programme.

He also urged the government to decentralise the work of service providers to the state level to prevent duplication and the sending of token text messages to the wrong beneficiaries.

He said the farm inputs distributed would be helpful to all farmers irrespective of their status, expressing satisfaction with the quality of branded fertilizer, seed, chemicals, organic fertilizer and pesticides received by farmers to improve their productivity.

“The redemption of 25 percent of the total cost of the input by the beneficiaries while the government pays the balance is a commendable effort,” he said.

He, however, appealed to government at all levels to consider making the inputs intervention totally free for farmers in order to accommodate more beneficiaries, adding that larger number of the farmers live below poverty line and cannot afford to pay the 25 percent if accommodated.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Dapo Teni Nig Enterprise     Razak Atunwa     Hassan A. Saliu     Ibrahim Gambari     Wahab Agbaje     Ganmo     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Issa Manzuma     CCEPE     Gani Saadu     Garba Idris Ajia     Folorunsho Alao     Funmilayo Oniwa     Bio Ibrahim     Mohammed Haruna     Oyun     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Umar Ayinla Saro     Igbaja     Lanre Olosunde     Demola Banu     Oke-Oyi     Olabanji Orilonishe     Ajayi Okasanmi     Saadu Yusuf     Kayode Issa     Idowu Laro     Kolawole Bashirat     Labour Party     Akume     AbdulHamid Adi     Ilorin Amusement Park     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Alao Ayotunde     Ilorin Central Mosque     Balogin Alanamu     New Naira Notes     Alaro     Amuda Aluko     Ibikunle Ogunleye     Amusement Park     Folorunsho Erubu     Hussein Oloyede     Suleman Abubakar     Dagbalodo     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     Alikinla     Obuh     Yusuf Ali     Binta Sulyman     Oniye     Charcoal     Baba Issa     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Oke-Ode     Kwara State Council Of Chiefs     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Salihu S. Yaru     AGF Abdulrazaq     NIPR     Turaki Of Ilorin     Doyin Group     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Tunji Folami     Haliru Dantoro     Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement     Ndakene     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Bahago     Tafida Of Kaiama     Adamu B. Yaqubu     Playing Host     MAI Akande     Bisi Oyeleke     Salary     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Patigi Regatta     Kemi Adeosun     Nurudeen Muhammed     Mumini Ishola Hanafi     Elections     Erubu     Yoonus Lawal     Oloje     Bola Magaji     Alliance For Democracy     Abdulhakeem Amao     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Universal Basic Education Commission     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Idi-Ape     Edret Sabi Abel     Maryam A. Garuba     TIIDELab     Kola Shittu     Mohammed Saidu     Kolawole Bashirat     Modupe Oluwole     Share     Post Utme     Al-Ilory     Muhammed Danjuma     Ndakene     KWIRS     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Bello Oyedepo     Agor Market     Kwarareports     Noah Yusuf     Gbugbu     Mujtabah Bature     Kayode Ibrahim     MMWG     Sheikh Ariyibi     Saliu Tunde Bello     Femtech     Pilgrims Board     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Ajibola Ademola Julius     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Akanbi-Oke     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Jumoke F. Ajao     Mohammed Lawal     Tafida Of Kaiama     Alabere     Lanre Aremu     Oko-Olowo     Adegoke Bamidele     Mohammed Haruna     Ganmo     Femi Ogunsola     Buari Edun     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Abdulrazaq Sanni     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Ayo Opadokun     Mansurat Amuda-Kannike     Agor     Patience Jonathan     Harmony Holdings     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Alfa Belgore     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Obayomi Azeez     Emir Of Kano     Al-Adaby     Ridwan Agboola     Bola Sagaya     Funmilayo Mohammed