Nigeria: Farmers accuse Cassava Growers Association of cheating
According to a statement, the group said its members applied for the loan individually from the BOA, Fugar in Etsako central local government in Edo State in April 2014 to cultivate cassava, but stressed that the loan is yet to be disbursed by the national executive of NCGA.
The Group stated that about 97 of its members applied for the loan summed up to about a tune of 34,572,000 to cultivate more lands for cassava production with the aim of repaying the loan within the stipulated two year tenure.
The farmers said most of them, after applying for the loan and waiting for approval, obtained loan on high interest rate as much as 20 per cent per month from individuals and other banks with the hope to repay when they get the loan.
The group added that for easy disbursement of the loan, it came under a farm, Ideawor Farms Limited, in Iraokhor Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State to apply for various amounts according to their farm sizes, stating that no farmer has yet been given the loan.
"Now that the loans is released to the national executive of NCGA, they are saying that no farmer will get cash from the loan rather that they (NCGA) are going to tractorise the land and give farmers materials to work," the Group said.
"We are by this letter, requesting that the national executive of NCGA be instructed to release the money to BOA, Fugar to disburse to applicants to repay their loan and continue to cultivate more land on their own. We promise to repay the loan when due and sell our cassava to processors," the Group added.
The group said, “On behalf of the members of the South-Ibie and Auchi-Osa groups of the NCGA, we are writing to inform you of the swindling of the approved and released loan for farmers of these groups by the national executive members of the NCGA headed by the Pastor Olusegun Adewunmi.”
The group however called for an urgent move by the BOA to intervene to ensure the disbursement of the loan to help farmers pay back the debt borrowed and also focus on their farms.
Source: thisdaylive.com