The head of the Hausa community in Alubarika Rice Farm Cluster, Bello Zabarmawa, has refuted claims of complete ownership and management of a 200-hectare rice farm located in Magboro, Obafemi – Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
A media report had quoted Zabarmawa accusing Governor Abiodun of inappropriately taking possession and glory of the rice farm and tagging it a project funded by his administration with the support of the World Bank.
Dismissing the report, the Kebbi State-born businessman and farmer denied claiming ownership of the farm.
Zabarmawa, who spoke to newsmen on Friday at the rice farm located in Magboro, said about 200 farmers of different ethnic backgrounds had contributed and were cultivating on the rice farm.
He maintained that the state government had brought the tractor, and harvesters and paid 50% for fertilizers and chemicals.
Zabarmawa said “I saw some social media posting online that I said the government did not help farmers, that’s not true. When we started this we hadn’t done anything when the state government brought tractors to help us, after that for chemicals and fertilizers the government paid 50% while the farmers were to pay the remaining 50% and when they couldn’t I lent them the sum of N30 million to pay.
“We have 200 members who did their registration and we have their names. Each of them covers 1 hectare and they are not just Hausa we have Igbo and Yoruba.
“When the rice reached the harvesting stage, I called the Young Agro Service informing them, and the government provided three harvesters and covered 65% of the work while each farmer was entitled to contribute 35%.
“ I didn’t say the government never supported me, even looking at the farm you would see the government’s support, so people should not lie against me.
He noted that due to the state government’s support, he left his hometown to do business in Ogun, adding that “I told them about all the government has done for us and even called on the government to do more to help Nigerians overcome the country’s food shortage.”
Adelowo Salam, the Chairman of the farm said the report that Zabarmawa personally owns the farm is not true as the tractor, planter and harvester belong to Young Agro, the service provider.
CEO of The Young Agro Services Enterprise, Ajibola Johnson said, he was selected by the state government in 2023 to offer services to farmers in Obafemi Owode, Remo North, Sagamu and Ikenne local government areas the rice farm is one of them.
“The services we rendered started from ploughing, spraying and planting of commodities. I brought in 6 tractors and 3 harvesters to work on the rice farm and they paid me 35% while the government paid 65%”.
He accused the report of being politically inclined, adding that all 200 farmers, although not having sufficient capital, supported the process.
I never claimed ownership of 200-hectare rice farm, attack Gov Abiodun – Zabarmawa