The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Kano state chapter has accused the State Product Monitoring Team (PMT) of sabotaging the rice segment of CBN Anchor Borrower programme in the state.
The Product Monitoring Team was set up by the Kano State government to collaborate with the farmers and the Central Bank of Nigeria for effective implementation of the programme in the state.
The state RIFAN chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu made the accusation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Friday.
He said the team which is under the leadership of the Managing Director of the State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA) Prof Mahmud Daneji, has not been forthcoming in ensuring that the farmers benefitted from the loan this irrigation season.
“The PMT is not committed to the success of the Anchor Borrower programme in Kano state”.
“We are the most backward on Anchor Borrower programme among all the states that are participating in the programme. “he said.
According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria had approved the loan for the farmers since during the 2016 rainy season and wondered why they should not be given the facility.
He alleged that the team which was supposed to have convened a stakeholder meeting but instead the chairman travelled out of the country and could not be seen for a long time.
“The PMT chairman has succeeded in ensuring that the programme failed in the state since none of our members benefitted from the loan this irrigation season.
“Their reason is that our members did not repay the loan they collected for the wet season but they have forgotten that the loan was given in September 2016, when the rainy season was almost over, “he said.
He noted that the inability of the Rice Farmers to access the loan for the dry season farming, had adversely affected rice production in the state and the country at large.
When contacted, the PMT chairman and Managing Director of KNARDA, Prof Mahmud Daneji described the allegations as untrue and a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of members of the team.
According to him, the reason why the loan was not given to the farmers for the dry season farming was because of their failure to pay the loan for the wet season programme.
“Out of 5,540 farmers that collected the loan during the wet season only four have so far repaid the loan. This is the reason why the loan was not given for the dry season farming. “ Daneji said. (NAN).
RG/MTM/MTM
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