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.

Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Saliu Oluwole     Musa Abdullahi     Ayinke Saka     Segun Ogunsola     Nigeria Association Of Women Journalists     AbdulGafar Tosho     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Abubakar Ndakene     Ita-Nmo Market     Tunde Mukaila Mustapha     Modupe Oluwole     Oluranti Idowu     Ilorin Airport     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Oye Tinuoye     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     CACOVID Palliatives     Isiaka Danmeromu     Onilorin Of Ilorin     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Omu-aran     Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf     Akeem Olatunji     UITH     Ajasse-Ipo     Budo-Egba     National Broadcasting Commission     Tunji Olawuyi     Minister     Atiku     Saliu Shola Taofeek     Olaitan Adefila     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Sheikh Ariyibi     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Saheed Popoola     Saka Abimbola Isau     Overland     Emir Of Kano     Aisha Gobir     Dankaka     Al-Hikmah Radio     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Toyin Saraki     Salake     Prince Bola Ajibola     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Patigi Regatta     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Oko-Erin     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Firdaos Amasa     Gwanara     Share     Abubakar Baba     Lukman Adeloyin     Tosin Saraki     Saba Jibril     Ayedun     Ahmed Alhasssan     Adeniyi Ojo     Lateef Alagbonsi     Omoniyi Ayinla     Earlyon Technologies     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Kwara Liberation Group     Labour Party     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Oba Of Jebba     Jawondo     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Ridwan Agboola     Dasuki Belgore     SUBEB    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Taofeeq Olateju     Olosi Of Osi     Amina El-Imam     Ilorin Amusement Park     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye     Hausa     Muhammad Akande Olarewaju Odunade     Kale Bayero     Police Commissioner     Popo-Igbonna     Age AbdulKareem     James Ayeni     Kayode Ishola     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Ajikobi     Taofeek Ibraheem     Bilikisu Gambari     Tsaragi/Share     Kayode Zubair     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Labaeka     Jide Oyinloye     Abdulganiyu Oladosu     Oluronke Adeyemi     Inside Kwara     Sa\'adu Salau     Oladimeji Thompson     Alfa Modibo Belgore     JMK Construction Company Limited     Transition Implementation Committee     Just Event Online     Bolaji Gambari     Mohammed Abdulahi     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Kwara State Fire Service     Gaa Olobi     Abatemi-Usman     Umar Bayo Abdulwahab     Trade Lenda SME Fair     AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa     Gbenga Awoyale     AbdulRazaq AbduMajeed Alaro     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Segun Olawoyin     Babata     Onilupeju Of Ilupeju     Isin     Al-Adaby     Atiku     Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro     Bolakale Kawu     Oyun     Valsolar     RTEAN     Imam Gambari     Funke Adedoyin     Amuda Bembe     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Student Learning Support Helpline     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     International Vocational Centre     Irepodun     Olaitan Buraimoh     Abdulmutalib Shittu     Oke-Ero     NULGE     Raji AbdulRasaq     Ali Ahmad     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Folaranmi Aro     IYA ALFA NLA     NYSC     Muritala Awodun     Abubakar Lah