Ogun rice farmers debunk claim govt hijacked production efforts

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, Alhaji Bello Zabarmawa, denied claims of ownership of the 200 hectares of rice.

Zambrawa also said that there was never a time he denied the significant support of the Ogun State government to the rice farmers in the area.

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 paying 50 per cent of the cost for tractors, fertilizers, and other things for land preparation and planning, while the farmers covered the remaining 50 per cent.

He said 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.

Zambrawa said “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 pay 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. 

“When it was time to harvest, I reached out to our service provider, Young Agro Services and he brought three harvesters. I told the farmers that they would pay 35 per cent for the cost while the government would pay 65 per cent. We have 200 rice farmers here and each of them has one hectare of rice farm.”

He added “The Commissioner was here two times before the governor came here. All that they said that I am the owner of the harvesters is not true because I have never seen one in my life. It is the government that brought the harvesters. 

“I have to leave my business to come and face this rice farm because of government support. During the interview, I only said that the government should do more so that we can overcome the hunger people are talking about. I never said the government did not support us. They should not use my name to lie. This is not about Hausa but about every farmer.”

Equally speaking, the Chairman of Alubarika Cluster Farmers, Salam Adelowo said that the government’s support has been the reason for the success recorded in rice farming.

Adelowo said he was so surprised to hear the news that Zabarmawa is the owner of the farm, saying it was not true.

He said “We all know that it is our Governor, Dapo Abiodun that assisted all our farmers here from land preparation to harvesting. Once we pay our 50 per cent, the government supports us as well by paying the remaining 50 per cent. This applies to land preparation, planting, herbicides, fertilisers and to the point of harvesting. 

“The rice farming is time-bound and without the support of the government, we could not have done anything. 

“We have received all this support through the Ogun State Economic Transformation Programme. Whatever is being said out there is nothing but fallacy.

“We have 200 hectares, one each for a farmer. The harvesters were also brought in by the Young Agro Services which has been providing services for us. It doesn’t belong to anyone on the farm.”

The service provider to the farm, the CEO of Young Agro Service Enterprise, Ajibola Johnson, also confirmed the government support to the rice farmers, threatening legal action against whoever is misinforming the general public.

Ajibola said he was among the three service providers the government contracted in 2023 and he had been responsible for the servicing of the farmers.

He said that the government never said they owned the farm and that because of the success recorded so far, the government has promised to expand the rice farmers’ membership to as many as 1,000 while also constructing the road from Magboro Express to the farm.