..says rice farmers in Edu LG receive 3,000 bags of fertilizer
The Kwara State chapter of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has described as baseless and unfounded the allegation that the state government sidelined hundreds of rice farmers from Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of the state in the distribution of 3000 bags of fertilizer earmarked for rice farmers in the local government area.
It also dismissed the claim that the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Toyosi Thomas, treated farmers scornfully at the point of distributing the commodity in Bacita, Edu Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement issued in Ilorin, the
Kwara State Coordinator, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Mr Mohammed Salihu, said the association was taken aback with what he identified as an attempt to drag the state government, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development and the name of his association in the mud.
Salihu explained that a faceless group, Lafiagi Emirate Youths Transparent Association (LEYTA) was out to malign RIFAN and embarrass the state government in spite of its effort to boost production of local rice through provision of farm inputs such as fertilizer.
He said it was unfortunate that the state government that should be commended for its intervention is now being unjustly criticized, adding that the untoward attitude of the faceless group could discourage government from patronizing local rice farmers for similar support in the nearest future.
The RIFAN state coordinator disclosed that the state government allotted 2000 bags of NPK fertilizer and 1000 bags of Urea fertilizer, making 3000 bags in all to 1000 rice farmers in Edu Local Government Area alone.
He said the distribution of the commodity has not been stopped contrary to rumour making the rounds, pointing out that the exercise would continue to target genuine rice farmers to benefit from the free fertilizer.
The RIFAN state coordinator insisted that at no time did member representing Edu/Moro/Patigi in the House of Representatives, Dr Ahmed Adamu Saba, ordered the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Toyosi Thomas, to use his own template for the distribution of the commodity.
Salihu warned that his association would not condone any ploy to destroy its good reputation before the entire world on account of falsehood, which the faceless group has latched on to bring down RIFAN in the state.
The RIFAN coordinator applauded the peaceful conduct of the rice farmers in the ongoing exercise and appealed to them not to get swayed with the antics of the rumour mongers, who have perfected plot to cause confusion with the ultimate goal of rubbishing the state government.
“We want to thank the state government for prioritizing the interest of rice farmers in the state. We have 2000 bags of NPK fertilizer and 1000 bags of Urea fertilizer, making 3000 bags of fertilizer in all for 1000 rice farmers in Edu Local Government Area.
“Already, rumour has spread like wildfire about Hon Ahmed Adamu Saba. For those who know and others who chose not to know for reason best known to them, Hon Saba is a major stakeholder in rice farming activities in Kwara State but there was never a time he decided for the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Toyosi Thomas, on the modality for distribution of the bags of fertilizer.
“Those behind this devilish act should get their facts right before coming out on a destructive spree.
“The bags of fertilizer that were distributed, are for all rice farmers in Edu and not a specific town as being portrayed in the falsehood information that had since gone viral in the social media circle.
“Again, we want to commend the state government for the trust it has invested in the rice farmers and in particular is the state Commissioner for identifying with rice farmers and for following due process from capturing to verification of genuine rice farmers, leading to the distribution”, Salihu said.
END.
