The Hausa neighborhood amongst Alubarika Rice Farmers Cluster in Magboro, Obafemi-Owode native authorities space of Ogun State has debunked a report that the state authorities has not been serving to the farmers and hijacked their effort on the rice farming.
The physique additionally stated authorities’s assist has been the explanation for the success recorded in rice farming.
The chief of the Hausa neighborhood amongst Alubarika Rice Farmers, Alhaji Bello Zabarmawa, denied claims of possession of the 200 hectares of rice.
Zambrawa additionally stated that there was by no means a time he denied the numerous assist of the Ogun State authorities to the rice farmers within the space.
The Kebbi State-born rice farmers disclosed this whereas talking with journalists on Friday throughout an on-the-spot go to to the farm.
He stated that the media organisation should have misquoted him as there was by no means a time he stated the state authorities hijacked the glory of their effort on the rice farm.
Zabarmawa defined that after they began the rice farm, the state authorities supported them paying 50 per cent of the price for tractors, fertilizers, and different issues for land preparation and planning, whereas the farmers coated the remaining 50 per cent.
He stated when the rice was prepared for harvest, the federal government by the service supplier, Younger Agro Service Enterprise additionally introduced three harvesters with the federal government paying 65 per cent value whereas the farmers paid the steadiness of 35 per cent.
Zambrawa stated “It’s not true that I stated the federal government has not been serving to the farmers right here. I’m the chief of the Hausa Group in Abubakar cluster farmers right here. Even people who find themselves Igbo, and Yoruba are in our neighborhood farming.
“It’s the authorities that brings the tractor, the fertilisers, the herbicides and the farmers can pay 50 per cent of the overall value whereas the federal government pay 50 per cent too.
“The time the farmers didn’t have the cash, I paid N30m on behalf of the farmers to gather fertilisers and chemical compounds.
“When it was time to reap, I reached out to our service supplier, Younger Agro Providers and he introduced three harvesters. I advised the farmers that they might pay 35 per cent for the price whereas the federal government would pay 65 per cent. We now have 200 rice farmers right here and every of them has one hectare of rice farm.”
He added “The Commissioner was right here two instances earlier than the governor got here right here. All that they stated that I’m the proprietor of the harvesters will not be true as a result of I’ve by no means seen one in my life. It’s the authorities that introduced the harvesters.
“I’ve to depart my enterprise to come back and face this rice farm due to authorities assist. Through the interview, I solely stated that the federal government ought to do extra in order that we will overcome the starvation individuals are speaking about. I by no means stated the federal government didn’t assist us. They need to not use my identify to lie. This isn’t about Hausa however about each farmer.”
Equally talking, the Chairman of Alubarika Cluster Farmers, Salam Adelowo stated that the federal government’s assist has been the explanation for the success recorded in rice farming.
Adelowo stated he was so shocked to listen to the information that Zabarmawa is the proprietor of the farm, saying it was not true.
He stated “Everyone knows that it’s our Governor, Dapo Abiodun that assisted all our farmers right here from land preparation to harvesting. As soon as we pay our 50 per cent, the federal government helps us as nicely by paying the remaining 50 per cent. This is applicable to land preparation, planting, herbicides, fertilisers and to the purpose of harvesting.
“The rice farming is time-bound and with out the assist of the federal government, we couldn’t have carried out something.
“We now have acquired all this assist by the Ogun State Financial Transformation Programme. No matter is being stated out there’s nothing however fallacy.
“We now have 200 hectares, one every for a farmer. The harvesters had been additionally introduced in by the Younger Agro Providers which has been offering providers for us. It doesn’t belong to anybody on the farm.”
The service supplier to the farm, the CEO of Younger Agro Service Enterprise, Ajibola Johnson, additionally confirmed the federal government assist to the rice farmers, threatening authorized motion in opposition to whoever is misinforming most of the people.
Ajibola stated he was among the many three service suppliers the federal government contracted in 2023 and he had been accountable for the servicing of the farmers.
He stated that the federal government by no means stated they owned the farm and that due to the success recorded to date, the federal government has promised to broaden the rice farmers’ membership to as many as 1,000 whereas additionally establishing the highway from Magboro Categorical to the farm.