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.
Nigeria Governors\' Forum GRA NAWOJ YAKOOYO Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi KWTV Oke-Odo Ahmad Uthman Oloriegbe Raliat Islamic Foundation Galland Marcias Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu Theophilus Oyebiyi Ilorin Metro Park Abdulrazak Shehu Akorede Aliyu U. Tilde Funmi Salau Ilesha-Gwanara High Court Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata Oni Adebayo Musa Aibinu Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah Ronke Adeyemi Vishvas KOZ Tractors Christopher Ayeni Ibrahim Sulu Gambari Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Salihu Ajibola Ajia Dankaka General Hospital, Ilorin Kwara NIPR Kwara Central Sa\'adu Gambari Folashade Omoniyi Sunday Fagbemi Sulyman Buhari Isapa Idowu Laro Amada Jidda Yusuf Arowosaye International Public Sector Accounting Standards Abdulrosheed Okiki Igbomina Salmon Babatunde Salmon Kwara 2015 Toyin Saraki Adijat Adebiyi Okanlawon Musa Salihu Yahaya Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye Kwara South Wale Oladepo Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq Akorede Yahaya Seriki Gambari Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye Local Government Pension Board Tunji Moronfoye Abegunde Goke Bluenile Associates Gobir Organization Foundation Split Diamond Interchange Bayo Ajia Kale Kawu Share Aminu Adisa Logun Wahab Issa Government High School Adeta African Democratic Congress Oba Abu Jamila Bio Ibrahim VADA Kwara State Government Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu Timothy Olatunde Fadipe

