By Auwalu Yusuf
Daura – The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Katsina state chapter, has directed its members to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Aminu Masari in the rescheduled elections on Feb.23 and March 9.
Alhaji Shuaibu Wakili, the chairman of the chapte, said this in a statement in Daura on Thursday.
He said the chapter issued the directive at the end of its general meeting in Katsina on Wednesday.
Wakili said that the directive became imperative for the association to throw its weight behind Buhari and Masari considering their individual efforts at transforming the agricultural sector in the last three and a half years.
“ We must vote for APC wisely and massively, according to our conscience,” the chairman said.
He said that the Buhari led-administration had through its Anchor Borrower’s Programme and other agricultural schemes, created millions of jobs, enhanced self-reliance and boosted food security.
The chairman noted that Nigeria had substituted rice importation with export of the commodity.
RIFAN also lauded the Federal government on the provision of agricultural inputs to farmers through the anchor borrower’s programme.
According to the association,over 250,000 farmers have benefitted from the programme across the 34 local government areas of the state .
He said the anchor borrower’s programme had also created “thousands of millionaires“ stressing that farmers were provided with fertiliser, seedlings, water pumping machines, insecticides, sprayers and herbicides through revolving loan.
He emphasised that the association found it expedient to galvanise support toward Buhari’s re-election, to enable him consolidate on the gains his administration so far recorded.
“ The rice farmers and their families in Katsina state will ensure block votes for Buhari and Masari.”