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.

Woro     Suleiman Abubakar     Gbajabiamila     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Siraj Oyewale     Baruba     Emir Of Yashikira     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin     Goodluck Jonathan     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Justina Oha     Kwasu     Economic And Financial Crimes Commission     Tanke Road     Hussein Olokooba     Ibrahim Mohammed     Abdulquowiyu Olododo     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Turaki     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Okala Baba     Ben Duntoye     Hausa     GAMA     KFA     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Oro Grammar School     Gbenga Awoyale     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Saraki     Mope Dasuki Belgore     Moses Adekanye     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Maimunat Oniyangi     A.E. Afolabi     Ilesha Gwanara Road     SSUCOEN     IsDB     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Okin Biscuits     Kayode Ogunlowo     Olatunde Jare     Bello Taoheed Abubakar     Shehu Salau     Olam Food Ingredients     Roseline Oni Aremu     Najim Yaasin     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     Akeem Olatunji     Emir Of Shonga     Abdulrazaq Solihudeen     Olatunji Ayeni     Ilorin General Hospital     Adanla-Irese     ITEM 7     Idiagbon     National Party Of Nigeria     Bukola Saraki     Adesina Simon Sodiya     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Bashiru Makama     Adamu Atta     NIPR     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Kwara University Of Education     Kwara Apc     Post Utme     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Wakilin Mata Lafiagi     Ibrahim Taiwo Road     Towoju     Fatimoh Lawal     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Minister     Yakub Lai Gobir    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Ifelodun     Tunde Yusuf     Amuda Bembe     Femi Oladiji     Isiaka Saka Opobiyi     Shade Omoniyi     Maryam Ado Bayero     Women Radio     Saliu Tunde Bello     Samari     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Lawan     Mohammed Abduraheem     Kwara State Branch Of The National Library     GANZY     Saliu Shola Taofeek     Tunde Oyawoye     Iyiola Oyedepo     Afetu Of Alabe     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Olatunde Jare     Sabi     Rafiu Ibrahim     Mohammed Abdulahi     Vasolar     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Oke-Odo     Wahab Femi Agbaje     Segun Adeniyi     Bareke     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Siraj Oyewale     Issa Manzuma     Olupako Of Share     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Ethical College     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Laduba     Vasolar Consortium     Edu     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     Lanre Badmas     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Kunle Akogun     Mohammed Halidu     Shettima     Paul Odama     Government House     Alimi Abdulrazaq     Amosa     Saka Keji     Offa Descendants Union     Ojo Isekuse     Hameed Oladipupo Ali     20 Billion Bond     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Emir Of Shonga     Mahe Abdulkadir     Temi Kolawole     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Umar Danladi Shero     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Abubakar Baba     Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education     Moshood Mustapha     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Emmanuel Bello     Kehinde Baale     Garba Ado Sanni     Ashiru     Fatai Garuba Labaka     Baruten     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Isiaka Alikinla     Okasanmi Ajayi