RIFAN Special Project records achievements in Gombe as beneficiaries seek expansion
Beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Anchor Borrower Programme (ABP) intervention under the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Special Project have expressed satisfaction with the intervention as beneficiaries seek expansion of the project in the state.
The farmers during a press conference in Gombe on Wednesday said the impact of the Federal Government’s intervention through the Special Project was impressive and yielding the right results.
Mr Mohammed Gwani, the chairman of RIFAN Special Project, Gombe state chapter said since the FG government began intervening in rice cultivation, there had been a lot of progress in rice cultivation across Dadin Kowa, Balanga and other communities in the state.
Gwani said a lot of farmers had been assisted free of charge during the dry season and the assistance had increased the number of farmers cultivating the commodity during dry season.
He said dry season rice farmers were given free fertilisers, agro-chemicals and improved seedlings to cultivate to only pay with seven bags of paddy after harvest.
According to the chairman, the story of rice cultivation is gradually changing with this initiative from the FG and “this is bringing back the era of rice pyramid after a long time.’’
“We have nothing to say than to appreciate Mr President (Muhammadu Buhari) for making his administration farmers’ administration. May God bless President Buhari for assisting poor farmers,’’ he prayed.
Alhaji Musa Arab, the Technical Adviser to Mr Gwani explained that the impact of this intervention was huge on communities benefitting from the FG’s Special Project on rice cultivation.
Arab said with the project, over 102, 000 bags of rice paddy had been recovered from its farmers as loan repayment from farmers and these have been sold to rice millers at subsidised rates.
According to him, the intervention of the FG is impacting the whole value of chain as more farmers are being assisted to cultivate rice in large scale both dry and wet season.
He added that the paddy were now sold to millers across the state at “fair prices so that they can also sell at good prices to ensure that the prices of rice drops in the market.’’
Arab said that with the assistance, over 15, 000 hectares were being cultivated and more farmers have indicated interest ahead of the dry season to sustain the success story and ensure sufficiency in the country.
He, however, expressed the farmers fear that the next administration may not be as “friendly to farmers as President Buhari’’, hence urged the FG to put modalities to sustain the ABP to protect farmers.
Shagari Adamu, the head of cluster of rice farmers from Kumo Community appealed to the FG to increase funds to rice farmers under the RIFAN special project to boost effort at ensuring rice sufficiency in Nigeria.
Adamu said if with just about 15, 000 farmers over 100,000 bags of paddy was mopped up and sold to millers, with more farmers, millers would have no challenge getting paddies all year round.
Umar Garba, the secretary of the group and cluster head of Bajoga rice farmers said the project was a success as inputs for rice cultivation were being accessed easily without stress as it was before the project commenced in Gombe.
“We thank President Buhari and the RIFAN National President, Aminu Goronyo for their love for farmers; May God bless them greatly and give them sound health,” he said.
I Mrs B J Kalah, women leader in rice farming, heartily congratulates the programme for it’s immerce progress, when you empower a woman, you empower the whole nation, I appreciate Fed government for this beatifull initiation, the chairman of the programme ( S Shanu) and all the staff of anchor borrowers programme, thank you for including women rice farmers in the programme, may God bless you richly, amen.