The Hausa community among Alubarika Rice Farmers Cluster in Magboro, Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun State has debunked a report that the state government has not been helping the farmers and hijacked their effort on the rice farming. The body also said government’s support has been the reason for the success recorded in rice farming.
The leader of the Hausa community among Alubarika Rice Farmers, Bello Zabarmawa, also denied claims of ownership of the 200 hectares of rice.
The Kebbi State-born rice farmers disclosed this while speaking with journalists on Friday during an on-the-spot visit to the farm.
He said that the media organisation must have misquoted him as there was never a time he said the state government hijacked the glory of their effort on the rice farm.
Zabarmawa explained that when they started the rice farm, the state government supported them by paying 50% of the cost for tractors, fertilizers, and other things for land preparation and planning, while the farmers covered the remaining 50 per cent.
According to him, “It is not true that I said the government has not been helping the farmers here. I am the leader of the Hausa Community in Abubakar cluster farmers here. Even people who are Igbo, and Yoruba are in our community farming.
“It is the government that brings the tractor, the fertilisers, the herbicides and the farmers will pay 50 per cent of the total cost while the government pays 50 per cent too.
“The time the farmers did not have the money, I paid N30m on behalf of the farmers to collect fertilisers and chemicals.
Zabarmawa assured when the rice was ready for harvest, the government through the service provider, Young Agro Service Enterprise also brought three harvesters with the government paying 65 per cent cost while the farmers paid the balance of 35 per cent.
