Farmers under the auspices of Smallholder Women Farmers Organisation in Nigeria (SWOFON) have raised the alarm over alleged increase in purchase of their farm produce even before ripening.

SWOFON National President, Mary Afan, who disclosed this, yesterday, in Abuja, at an event organised by International Budget Partnership, called on relevant government agencies to swing into action “so that our vulnerable women farmers will not continually fall prey to the hands of exploitative ‘middlemen’.”

She said: “We want to seize this opportunity to draw the attention of the Federal Government to recent developments, following its decision to redesign the naira.

“Our women farmers are recording increase in the purchase of farm produce, even before they mature. We are noticing increased number of middlemen, who are going into rural communities that cultivate tree crops, such as cashew and oil palms, to pay for the crops, even before they are harvested.”

“We suspect that this tactics by middlemen is a way of pushing stolen and hoarded money into the hands of our farmers who would then take the money to banks for deposit.”

This came as Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) commended the Buhari administration and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, for a successful unveiling of the redesigned naira notes.

In a statement issued by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, CNPP said: “President Buhari’s administration has, by this singular action, demonstrated a strong will to manage Nigeria’s ailing economy.

“If followed by strict implementation of outlined monetary strategies for a full cashless economy, Nigeria’s democracy will be better for it. Buhari rightly noted the urgent need to take control of the volume of currency in circulation and address the hoarding of notes outside the banking system, the shortage of clean and fit banknotes in circulation, and the increase in counterfeiting of high-denomination banknotes.”

He added: “For CNPP, there is no better time to take control of money in circulation but now, especially, with the forthcoming 2023 general elections and the experience Nigeria has had in recent years, in the form of voter inducement.

“Vote buying is a menace all citizens must vehemently stand against in unison, irrespective of political affiliation, as we can only play politics where there is a level playing field.

“For Nigeria to maximise benefits of the redesigned naira notes, including enhanced security, greater durability, attractiveness and promotion of rich cultural heritage, as well as tackle vote buying, CBN and anti-corruption agencies must, at all cost, discourage over-the-counter cash withdrawals in large sums.”