The acting chairman Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) Taraba State Chapter Tanko Andami, disclosed that 3,383 rice farmers in Taraba state have escaped with N364 million loan from CBN.

The funds were collected as loans by farmers between 2018 and 2019 for both wet and dry season farming.

About 3,383 farmers that collected the N364 million loan for both wet and dry season farming between 2018 and 2019 in Taraba state are on the run.

According to newsmen, Tanko Andami, said the amount which was collected as loans has not been refunded by any of the farmers, adding that many of them are on the run now.

Andami went on to question why the farmers failed to adhere to the conditions of loans. He said: “None of them, as I am talking with you, has refunded the facility extended to them, and many of them are on the run now.”

The beneficiaries of the CBN loans were from Lau, Gassol, Wukari, Karim-Lamido, Ardo-Kila and Jalingo councils of Taraba state and registered under 185 multi-purpose co-operative societies.

According to Daniel Gani, the vice-chairman of the association, most of the farmers thought the loan was “a gift” from the government, adding that they looked at it as allowance and bonus from the Nigerian president.

Gani, while expressing dismay that some of the beneficiaries have changed their contact information, said no farmer has been traced, except the deceased.

He said though the association was on “a recovery process,” they would, however, leave no stone unturned in its efforts to recover the loans.

President Muhammadu Buhari challenged Nigerian farmers on the need to embark on massive productive agricultural activities this farming season as Nigeria has no money for food importation.

The president gave the challenge shortly after observing this year’s Eid prayer alongside members of his family and few presidential aides at the presidential villa, Abuja.

President Buhari, who spoke to State House correspondents, said: “I hope the raining season would be bountiful, so that we get a lot of food.”

In a related development, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono, said Nigerian rice can compete favourably in the global market.

Nanono, according to the statement, made the disclosure during a working visit to rice farms and mills of Stallion Group Limited, Popular Farms and Mill Limited – producers of Stallion rice in Kano.

The minister said that Nigerian rice would compete favourably in the global market the moment exportation began.

“If we maintain this momentum in the next two years, we may export rice to other countries,” he said.

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