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.
ASKOMP Kubra Kazum Muhammadu Buhari Benin Republic Lawan Ilesha Gwanara Road Abdulahi Abubakar Bata Dagbalodo Obuh Babaita Laboratory-to-Product Logun Joseph Alex Offorjama Taofik Abiodun Ahmed Hikmah AbdulKareem Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq Lateef Fagbemi Okoolowo Edu Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Katibi Ibraheem Adeola Ayobami Seriki Sunday Popo-Ola Orisun Igbomina Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies Minimum Wage Tsaragi-Share Kola Shittu Gurei Dasuki Belgore Abdulganiyu Salahudeen Code Of Conduct Bureau Ibrahim Mohammed General Hospital Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan Police Commissioner Prince Mahe Abdulkadir Salman Alada General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin Gbugbu International Market Bola Olukoju Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed 07039448763 Doyin Agbamu Sunday Fagbemi Pacify Labs Computer Based Test Jamila Bio Ibrahim Www.Kwarareports.com Umar Saro Afusat Nike Ibrahim AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem Aso Ofi Saliu Ajibola Ajia Ibrahim Bio Paul Odama Mahfouz Adedimeji Medinat Folorunsho Salman Yusuf Amuda Gobir Abdulganiyu AbdulAzeez 11th Galadima Sayomi Third Estate Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development Ahmad Fatima Bisola Special Agro-Industrial Hub ASUU Olatunji Moronfoye Centre For Digital Economy Kulende-UITH Adijat Adebiyi Akorede Aliyu Salihu Ramat Oganija Roheemat Hammed Hassan Oyeleke

