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.

Yahaya Dumoye     Yahaya Jibril Usman     Gobir Organization Foundation     Kolo     Akeem Olatunji     Tsaragi/Share     Saidu Isa     Turaki     Kola Ologbondiyan     Funmilayo Mohammed     Segun Olawoyin     Hassan Oyeleke     Hamid Bobboyi     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Abatemi-Usman     Jide Ashonibare     Ahmed     Tunde Idiagbon Road     IHS     Zulu Gambari     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Abegunde Goke     Kulende     Kwara Apc     Abdulkadir Orire     Turaki Of Ilorin     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Khairat Gwadabe     Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Mohammed Lawal Bagega     Ijagbo Health Centre     First Lady     Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak     Olusegun Adeniyi     Kwarareports.com     Nigeria Customs Service     Oke-Ero     Malete     Yoonus Lawal     Frootify     Ayo Salami     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Mamatu Abdullahi     Ajibike Katibi     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Kwara Metro Park     Aliyu Salihu     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Ibrahim Bio     Marufat Oladosu     Tuesday Assayomo     AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro     KWAFFA     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Oye Tinuoye     Yusuf Abdulkadir     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Senate President     Gbenga Olawepo     Dele Belgore     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Babajide Ajayi     Hassan Saliu     Revenue Court     Olatomiwa Williams     Sanusi Abubakar     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Kolawole Bashirat     Magaji Nda     Lawal Jimoh     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Bashiru Makama     Just Law Forum     Oluronke Adeyemi     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Mustapha Olanipekun    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Leke Ogungbe     Federal Allocation     Abatemi Usman     Elewu     Otoge     Ola Falade     Wasiu Onidugbe     Tsaragi     Muhammadu Buhari     Michael Nzekwe     Eghe Igbinehin     John Dara     Kwara State Fire Service     Abdulrahman Iliasu     George Funsho Adebayo     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji     Oko Erin     Abdulazeez Arowona     Adegoke Bamidele     Omu Aran     Gobir     Aisha Gobir     Hussein Oloyede     Agboola Babatunde     Ayinke Saka     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Kwara 2023     Salihu Yahaya     Abdulrasaq Alaro     Elesie Of Esie     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed     Solomon Edoja     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Abubakar Imam     Manzuma     Convocation Ceremonies     CKNG     SWAN     Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies     Shuaibu Yaman     Photo News     Doyin Awoyale     CCB     Unilorin     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Adesoye     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Mary Kemi Adeosun     National Pilot     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Deji Ajani     Kanu Agabi     Law School Scholarship     Jide Ashonibare     John Mayokun Dada     National Broadcasting Commission     AbdulRahman Saad     Shade Omoniyi     Saka Isau     Olota Of Odo-Owa     Usman Rifun     Saduki Lafiagi     Ekiti     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     Rashidi Yekini     Kayode Bankole     Ilorin West     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Oni Adebayo     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     CT Ayeni     Makama Of Kaiama     Razaq Atunwa