Kwara Rice Farmers Lament Delay in Agro-pockets Initiative
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.
Jumoke Gafar Ariyo Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency Jide Oyinloye Sola Saraki Educational Foundation Olukotun Of Ikotun Ita-Ore Oko Allocation Shettima Offa Poly Ahmed Bayero Grillo Raliat AbdulRazaq Rotimi Oyedepo Ilorin Amusement Park Oba Sulaiman Asude Yakubu Mohammed Abdullahi Dogara Sunday Otokiti Sheu Ndanusa Usman Umar Danladi Shero Ghali Muhammed Justina Oha Adeniyi Ojo Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu Gbenga Olawepo Najim Yaasin Ladi Hassan Javed Khan Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed Yusuf Olaolu Ali Isau Innocent Okoye Amuda Bembe Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu Micheal Imodu-Ganmo Road Kola Ologbondiyan Monthly Sanitation Exercise Baruba Saka Onimago Doyin Agbamu Adekunle David Dunmade David Oyerinola Adedunmoye Rasheed Jimoh Damilola Yusuf Otoge Sardauna Of Ilorin Hamza Usman Kwarareports.com Aishatu Ahmed Gobir Segun Olawoyin Yusuf Ali Gabriel Fashanu Sherif Shagaya Ibrahim Mashood TIC Abubakar Atiku Laolu Saraki Eleja Taiwo Banu Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited Principal Private Secretary Al-Hikmah Radio AbdulRazaq AbduMajeed Alaro Kwasu Arca Santa Abubakar Abdullahi Bata Abdulfatai Salman Baakini Shao Bola Tinubu Tafidan Kaiama Akeem Lawal Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode Oluranti Idowu Joseph Alex Offorjama Mansurat Amuda-Kannike Adaramaja

