The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RiFAN), Plateau state chapter, has commended the federal government for its provision of pumping machines to it, just as it called for reduction in prices to enable farmers afford it.
The chairman, Mr Joshua Bitrus, made the commendation yesterday in Jos, saying the gesture would boost dry season farming “in no small measure.”
Bitrus, who acknowledged the receipt of 60 pumping machines from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the machines had come to the farmers at the right time.
He said: “I want thank the honourable minister for his laudable initiative of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) that has touched the lives of almost every farmer in Nigeria.
“Through the Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), farmers got fertilisers, farm inputs and improved seeds. This time he has given us water pump generators for dry season farming it would facilitate the dry season farming of rice.
“We appreciate him and pray that God would continue to give him the wisdom to actualise his dreams which is to stop the importation of rice come 2015
“But we have a challenge that we want him to help us address, the water pumps that has been given us is on the high side and we want the price reduced to make it affordable for farmers.
“We discovered that the pumps which are given to us for N20, 000 only cost N17, 000 in the open market, we are appealing that farmers be given the generators for N10, 000 since we are to pay only 25 per cent of it.”
The RiFAN boss said if the price was reduced, then more of the pumps should be given to the state as there was very high demand for the facility.
The association also appealed for the reduction in price of harvesting machine that was given to it by the ministry.
“We were given a rice harvesting machine we are supposed to pay N129, 000, to government and that too is on the high side based on the open market value.
“We want the cost reduced and more be given to us in the Plateau because one is clearly not enough for us because of our large rice farms.” (NAN)
