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.
Olaoye B. Felix Balikis Jawondo Musa Ayinla Yeketi Sheriff Olanrewaju Muideen Olaniyi Alalade Oyelere Oyinloye Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement Adesoye College Olohungbebe Kayode Laro Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq Metro Park Gambari Bolakale Kawu Agaka AbdulGafar Tosho Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs Abdulwaheed Musa GAMA Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani Okeose Christian Cementary National Party Of Nigeria Ibrahim Gambari Maigidasanma Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists PPS Okin Malt Ilorin Water Reticulation Ndama Al-hassan Women For Change And Development Initiative Ishola Abdullahi Funmi Salau Abdulrahman Abdulrasak Oba Sulaiman Asude Olaiya Victor Mobolaji Sanitation Exercise Albert Ogunsola Aliyu Kora Sabi Mumeen Lah Abatemi-Usman Olupako Inside Kwara Umaru Saro Siraj Oyewale Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu Omoniyi Ayinla Quareeb Shehu Raheem Adaramaja General Hospital, Ilorin Abdulwahab Ololele Shonga Farm Project Lola Olabayo Risikat Lawal Government High School (GHS), Adeta All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools Naira Redesign Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi Dankaka Jide Ashonibare Owo Isowo Shoprite Benin Republic Zubair Folorunsho Erubu Mohammed Yisa Cornelius Adebayo Ojo Fadumila Nagode Daud Adeshola Azeez Salawu Oko Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Shehu Adaramaja Kwara State Television (KWTV) Yaru Bukola Ajikobi Fatima Abolore Jimoh

