From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Rice farmers in Kwara State, have expressed optimism that the federal government’s provision of farm inputs will significantly enhance food production in Nigeria.
Mallam Muhammed Salihu, the Coordinator of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Kwara State Chapter, made this statement during a press briefing at the distribution of inputs to about 1,500 rice farmers across the 16 local government areas of Kwara State. The distribution started in Kaiama Local Government on July 13, 2024.
According to Mallam Salihu, the federal government’s intervention will enable farmers to produce rice in larger quantities. He noted that the provision of NPK and Urea fertilizers, liquid fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides, among other items requested by the farmers, are of high quality.
Mallam Salihu highlighted that the national agricultural programme, tagged “Agro Pocket,” if maintained, will lead to rice production self-sufficiency.
He appealed to the federal government to expand the programme to include more farmers and explained that adequate measures are in place to monitor beneficiaries and prevent the diversion of inputs.
Mallam Salihu, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security for their support of rice farmers in the state. He assured that rice farmers would continue to support government policies and programmes to ensure their success.
Some rice farmers in Kwara State praised the federal government for the farm inputs intervention but urged that future distributions commence timely to allow for timely planting.
