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.

Prince Sunday Fagbemi     General Hospital, Offa     Egbejila     Tosin Saraki     Mamman Saba Jibril     Ayekale     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Sarkin Malamai     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Mahmud Babatunde Baker     Baruten     Offa     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Logun     Lanre Issa-Onilu     Paul Odama     IEDPU     Saliu Mustapha     Kola Olota     Ilofa     The Herald     Tanke Flyover Bridge     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Saeedat Aliyu     Abdulrahman Abdulrasak     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Apado     CACOVID     Diagnostic Centre     Ibrahim Taiwo Road     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     MATTA Girls Foundation     Ndakene     Alfa Modibo Belgore     2023 Elections     Sola Saraki University     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Funmilayo Mohammed     Col. Adedipe     Dagbalodo     Marafan Shonga     Ahmed \'Lateef     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao     Women Radio     Baboko Primary School     Mazars Consulting     Shururat Olatinwo     Tanke Road     Yusuf Aiyedun     Ayinke Saka     New Naira Notes     Umar Adelodun     Unicontinental Construction Company     KWASEIC     Kwara Consultative Forum     Olatunji Ayeni     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Umaru Saro     Fatai Olodo     Tunde Oyawoye     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     March 18     Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak     Okiki     Timothy Akangbe     IYA ALFA NLA     Bello Oyebanji     Ahmed Saidu Rufai     Samuel Adedoyin     Ben Duntoye     Damilola Yusuf     Ayobami Seriki     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Hausa    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Jumoke Gafar     Salami Adekunle     Belgore     Deji Ajani     KWSUED     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Rueben Parejo     Kulende     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Bamikole Omishore     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Okin Biscuit     Sola Saraki University     Rasheed Jimoh     Saliu Alamoyo     Damilola Yusuf     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh     Kannike     Kola Bukoye     Saheed Akinwumi     Bio Ibrahim     GRA     Odolaye Aremu     Garba Ado Sanni     Bashiru Makama     Oyawoye     Vasolar Consultoria     Mohammed Yisa     2023 Elections     Nurudeen Mohammed     Ambassador Kayode Laro     Frootify     Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi     Gabriel Fashanu     Gobir     Moro     College Of Health     Ilorin     ARMTI     Musbau A. Akanji     07039448763     Nigerian Medical Association     KWASEIC     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Joseph Bamigboye     UTME     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Idowu Laro     Malete     Zainab Abass     Segun Adeniyi     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Doyin Awoyale     Sarah Jubril     Salaudeen Oyewale     Rotimi Oyedepo     NIPR     Ilesha Gwanara Road     Ado Bayero     Lola Olabayo     Olatunde Michaels     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Okasanmi Ajayi     All Peoples Party     JSSCE     Olaiya Victor Mobolaji     Falokun-Oja     Dairo Kunle Paul     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Suleiman Abubakar     High Court     Gobirawa     Ilofa     Dorcas Afeniforo