The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Lagos has urged the Federal Government to channel agricultural support programmes through registered farmers associations to ensure that genuine farmers benefit from interventions and to strengthen domestic rice production.
The appeal was made on Tuesday in Lagos by the Chairman of RIFAN in the state, Raphael Hunsa, who commended the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the rice sector but argued that existing interventions remain inadequate and often fail to reach the intended beneficiaries.
Hunsa alleged that some political actors undermine agricultural intervention programmes by including non-farmers among beneficiaries during the distribution of farm inputs.
According to him, many genuine rice farmers are unable to access fertilisers and other critical inputs because individuals who are not actively engaged in farming are enlisted to benefit from government programmes.
He further claimed that fertilisers supplied under the administration of President Bola Tinubu are frequently diverted before reaching actual rice producers, reducing the effectiveness of government support.
Hunsa warned that the diversion of agricultural inputs discourages farmers, limits production and creates the false impression that intervention programmes have successfully reached those they were designed to assist.
He stressed that ensuring genuine farmers receive timely access to fertilisers and other production inputs is essential for increasing rice output, improving food security and reducing the country’s dependence on imported rice.
The RIFAN chairman therefore called on the Federal Government to collaborate directly with recognised farmers associations in the distribution of agricultural inputs, saying such an approach would improve accountability, transparency and efficiency.
According to him, farmers associations are better positioned to identify genuine producers and ensure that government interventions reach the right beneficiaries.
Hunsa noted that local rice production has continued to improve and that market prices are gradually declining, but emphasised that sustained government support and better-targeted intervention programmes are necessary to accelerate growth in the sector.
He expressed optimism that strengthening collaboration between government and farmers’ associations would enhance productivity, increase farmers incomes and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s food security and agricultural development goals.
