Farmers in Plateau State have accused the leadership of Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in the state of extortion and diversion of farm inputs including fertilizers provided by the federal government.
The farmers said farm inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, chemicals among others, collected on their behalf were not distributed to them accordingly.
They, therefore, called for the intervention of the federal government.
Alhaji Sule Yusuf, a farmer in the state, said despite registering with the association as required, he had not been given the inputs.
Another farmer, Paule Talmuk, lamented that rice farmers were being shortchanged in the distribution of farm equipment.
“Our leaders in RIFAN are cheating us. They use our names and all other information but would divert whatever is collected on our behalf,” he said.
Another rice farmer, Aliyu Musa Sura, said the distribution of the inputs was just a deception because “people would be asked to register with the association and all requirements would be made but always problematic to get the equipment. This habit would undoubtedly hinder the FG’s efforts to boost agriculture in the country.”
Contacted, the RIFAN’s chairman in the state, Joshua Bitrus, declined to comment.
“I have to know the persons making the allegations before responding,” he said.
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