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.
Bolaji Abdullahi David Oyepinola Adedumoye Sherif Sagaya Egbewole Kulende Opolo Global Innovation Limited TESCOM 2025 Saadu Gbogbo Iwe Bello Oyebanji Tinubu Legacy Forum Kupchi Hosea Maxwell Bamidele Aluko Taofeeq Olateju Oniwasi Agbaye AGM Professional Services CACOVID Palliatives Hamza Usman Seun Bolaji Bello Taoheed Abubakar Bature Bello Saad Omo Iya Gamji Members Association TIIDELab Ilorin General Hospital Kola Bukoye Baba-Isale Okin Malt KWASIEC SUBEB Maigida Soludero Transit Al-Ilory Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa COEASU Mohammed Yisa Ghali Alaaya Pilgrims Board Abdul-Rahoof Bello Olupako Senior Ibrahim Suleiman Simeon Sule Ajibola Erubu Onikijipa IYA YUSUF Michael Ologundea Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji Abdulganiyu Oladosu EFCC Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union Saka Saadu Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku Dorcas Afeniforo Yusuf Abdulwahab Post Utme Academic Staff Union Of Universities Mohammed Ghali Alaaya Jumoke F. Ajao KWACOBPA Ndama Al-hassan Shuaib Jawondo Ishaq Oloyede Olatinwo Jaiz Bank KWTV Iyeru Grammar School Mutawali Saad Omo\'ya Asiwaju Bola Tinubu SWAN Bamikole Omishore AGILE Programme Femtech Baboko Saka Balikis Kehinde Kumbi Titilope Gani Saadu Adebara Raliat Elelu-Habeeb

