Taiwo Ogunniyi
Rice farmers in Kwara State have expressed optimism that the Federal Government’s recent agricultural input intervention under the Agro-Pockets initiative will significantly boost food production and enhance food security across the nation.
The Kwara State Coordinator of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Mallam Mohammed Salihu, made this known during an interaction with journalists in Ilorin.
He commended the Federal Government’s efforts, stating that the distributed farm inputs would benefit farmers regardless of their status.
“We are pleased with the quality of fertilizers, seeds, chemicals, organic fertilizers, and pesticides provided to farmers to enhance their productivity,” Mallam Salihu remarked, expressing satisfaction with the intervention.
He further highlighted that the government’s initiative to cover 75% of the cost of the inputs while beneficiaries redeem 25% is a commendable step.
However, he urged the government to consider making the inputs entirely free, particularly for farmers living below the poverty line, many of whom struggle to meet the 25% payment.
Mallam Salihu also raised concerns about delays in input supplies from some agro-dealers, calling for an improved system that eliminates bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensures timely delivery to avoid benefiting the wrong recipients.
Additionally, he appealed to the Federal Government to involve indigenous agro-dealers in the input distribution process or channel it through commodity associations like RIFAN to enhance efficiency.
He recommended decentralizing the role of service providers to state levels to prevent duplication and errors in communication with farmers.
Commending both the Kwara State Government and the Federal Government for their support, Mallam Salihu assured the continued commitment of rice farmers to backing policies that promote food availability and affordability.
Over 2,000 rice farmers in Kwara State benefited from the farm inputs distributed under the Agro-Pockets initiative.
END
Leave a Reply