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.

Bukola Saraki     CACOVID     Shade Omoniyi     Amuda Bembe     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Kunle Okeowo     Oloriegbe     Aisha Ahman Pategi     KW-GIS     Okasanmi Ajayi     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Ilota     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Dan Masanin     Ilesha-Baruba     Yekini Adio     Saliu Tunde Bello     Majlis For Sadaqah, Zakat And Waqf     Guber Aspirant     Ishaq Salman     Face Masks     Abdulazeez Arowona     Minister     Elections     Bankole Omisore     Olaitan Adefila     Olosi Of Osi     Kannike     Baruba     Olusola Saraki     Lithium     Frootify     Aliyu Sabi     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Talaka Parapo     Shuaibu Yaman     Umar Gunu     Bisi Kristien     Garba Dogo     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Ajibike Katibi     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Just Event Online     KWASSIP     GGDSS Pakata     Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu     Ibrahim Jawondo     Borgu     Segun Ogunsola     Saad Omo Iya     Budo Egba     Shagari     Musa Aibinu     Issa Oloruntogun     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Millennium Development Goals     Micheal Imoudu     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     Olohungbebe     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin     KSIRS     Owo Arugbo     Ibrahim Abiodun     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     Vasolar Consultoria     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Shao     Aso Ofi     Amule     Jelili Yusuf     Bello John Olanrewaju     Saka Balikis Kehinde     Saad Omo\'ya     Simeon Sule Ajibola    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Maja     Mumeen Lah     Kishira     Saka Aleshinloye     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Umar Saro     Coronavirus     Computer Based Test     Omotoso Musa     Abdulrahman Onikijipa     KWASSIP     Voices Of Tomorrow     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Balogin Alanamu     Yusuf Abdulraheem     Hamidu Olowo     GGDSS Pakata     Oba-Solagberu     Roseline Oni Aremu     Chikanda     Plat Technologies Limited     Yusuf Badmus     Joseph Bamigboye     Dan-Kazeem     Ibrahim Taiwo Road     Isiaka Gold     Sheikh Alimi     Abdulrazaq Adebayo     Niguel Gallando Marcias     John Olajide Adedipe     Kwara State Sports Commission     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Bayo Ojo     Awwal Jawondo     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Patience Jonathan     UITH     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Makama Of Ilorin     20 Billion Bond     KWATMA     Kolo     NULGE     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Bluenile Associates     Ekweremadu     Senate Presidency     Segun Adeniyi     Emir Of Yashikira     Zara Umar     Bello Oyebanji     Lai Gobir     Dagbalodo     Usman Alkali Baba     Towoju     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     Hussein Oloyede     Hijab     Shola Odetundun     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Yusuf Mubarak     Amos Bajeh     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Ilorin International Airport     Kunbi Titiloye     Owo Isowo     Omotosho     Turaki Of Ilorin     Aliyu Alhassan     Bola Sagaya     Omar Gambari     Damilola Yusuf Adelodun     Alabi Lawal     Ibrahim Labaika     Nurudeen Muhammed     Christopher Ayeni     Eleja Taiwo Banu