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.

Maigida Soludero Transit     Saraki     Ibrahim Abdullahi     National Pilot     Hajj     Salaudeen Oyewale     Shururat Olatinwo     Emir Of Ilorin     Senate President     Ilorin Talaka Parapo (ITP)     Oluranti Idowu     Orisa Bridge     Kayode Laro     AbdulRaheem Ahmad Shayi     Facebook     Inside Kwara     Democracy Day     Imam Gambari     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Al-Hikmah Radio     Funke Adedoyin     Garba Ayodele Wahab     Okeose Christian Cementary     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Ahmed Dankaya     Kola Ologbondiyan     Temi Kolawole     Solomon Edojah     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Haruna Olawale Sulaiman     Adesina Simon Sodiya     JSSCE     Sa\'adu Salau     Idowu Laro     Ahmad Lawan     Minimum Wage     Abioye Bello     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Kola Adesina     Mike Omotosho     Abdulwahab Ololele     Olabimpe Olani     Elerin Of Adanla     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Michael Ologundea     James Ayeni     Abdullahi AbdulMajeed     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Old Oyo     Salman Jawondo     Ilorin Airport     Oyedepo     Umaru Saro     Igbomina     Sa\'ad Alanamu     PharmAccess Foundation     Rebecca Olanrewaju     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Isiaka Danmeromu     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Abubakar Atiku     TIC     Sai Kayi     New Nigeria People’s Party     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Henry Makinwa     Amuda Aluko     Shettima Of Ilorin     Okanlawon Taiwo     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Shagari     Kassim Babamale     Mazars Consulting     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Olaosebikan    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Lanre Olosunde     AGILE Programme     Bayo Onimago     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Pakata Development Association     Ilorin Durbar     Omoniyi     Yetunde Balogun     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Bello Abubakar     Oloyede     Ubandawaki     A.O. Belgore     Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem     Dumagi     Majlis For Sadaqah, Zakat And Waqf     Nigerian Correctional Service     Oko-Olowo     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     AbdulRahman Saad     Alao Ayotunde     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Wasiu Onidugbe     TIC     Nigerian Army     Chief Of Staff     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     CCT     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     ITEM 7     Sabitiyu Grillo     Abubakar Abdulraheem     MalHub     Daud Adeshola     Mamatu Abdullahi     National Party Of Nigeria     Ridwan Agboola     QuickWin     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     Imam Gambari     Hassan Taiye Salam     Lola Olabayo     Olatunji Bamgbola     Royal FM     Akume     Oba Abdulrahim     Kwara 2023     Madawaki     Isin     Lanre Issa Onilu     Moses Afolayan     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     NSCIA     Offa Grammer School     Okin Malt     Saka Keji     Idiagbon     Abdulazeez Uthman     Hussein Olokooba     Umar Adelodun     Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Umaru Saro     Ojuekun     Ahmad Belgore     Emir Of Yashikira     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     KWAFFA     Rafiu Ibrahim     Makama Of Ilorin     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Freshvine Nigeria Limited