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Article

16 May 2014

Author:
Nigerian Independent Tobacco Association

An appeal to the Honourable Federal Minister of Agriculture on the persistent harassment of tobacco farmers by the Nigerian Independent Tobacco Association (NITA) [Nigeria]

...British American Tobacco Nigeria...[in addition to] assisting us to plant tobacco, is also assisting...farmers, to plant maize and cassava...yam, guinea corn, groundnut and cow pea in a pilot Food Crop Intervention Scheme...[T]hrough...BATN we have access to...a training school that empowers young adults in...food crop and poultry production...We therefore...appeal to...these...Anti-Tobacco groups...to leave us alone...We are not slaves...We are adults who have voluntarily...decided...[to] farm...We have not been forced into any association with BATN. The loans given to us are interest free...[and] beneficial to us...We have no trouble paying back these loans...We have a structure in place for negotiating our produce, which we are happy with...BATN has invited other people to assist us so that we are not cheated...We do not enslave our chldren in any way...Our children go to school...play and also help out their parents in the farm or at home...BATN, has arranged on a number of occasions to have NGOs come and see what we are doing and talk with us...[W]e are very well informed...

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