Umar Akilu Majeri
Even as it was directed by the central bank of Nigeria that Agricultural facilities should be distributed early to all Wheat Farmers Association before the end of December this year, the story in Jigawa State is quite different.
The wheat farmers in Jigawa have cried out over non-supply of Insecticides, Spray machines, Water Pump Machines, and some said the registration money was paid but that they are yet to receive even the wheat seeds and fertilizers.
One of the wheat farmers Malam Ibrahim Jobiya said he was given two bags of wheat grain and ten bags of fertilizers, but yet their association that is the Jigawa wheat farmers association is unable to give them the remaining materials which include the pump generator and Chemicals.
Also, Alhaji Bala who is also a large scale farmer in Dutse called on the Jigawa State Governor Badaru Abubakar to constitute a committee that will investigate the matter because the materials said to be given to the farmers has not been given to them, as it is there is need for him to find out what is happening at the Dutse center.
Bala pointed out that the majority of the farmers who planted their wheat were not given water pumps that will enable them to water their wheat farms, he added that if the state government does not intervene a lot of farmers will lose their wheat farms due to non-availability of pump machines because the majority of them depend on hiring pump machines while some are using old pump machines.
When contacted on phone, the chairman of the association, Alhaji Mujitapha Ubayi Ringim said; “ it is our duty not your responsibility to explain to the government not you” he explained further that as a journalist it is unethical to investigate me, why are you asking me why we did not supply water pump machine to the farmers,” he said.
He added further that; “out of 14,000 farmers, we have distributed 1000 pump machines to them, when asked what is the faith of the remaining 13,000 farmers, he declined to comment.
