Benue mobilizes 7,274 farmers for rice, cassava production

BENUE State commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr James Ambua said that the state government had   mobilized 2,274 farmers for cultivation of rice and another 5000 farmers across the 23 local government areas of the state for cassava.

He expressed optimism that the state will in 2017 bombard Nigeria market with massive production of rice, cassava, soya bean and other farm produce.

Ambua who spoke at the ongoing accountability press briefing organized by Benue state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists held at NUJ house, Makurdi on Wednesday said that the aim of mobilizing over 7000 farmers is to boost farm produce this cropping season.

Mr Anbua  said that the state is ready to assist   80,000 farmers to qualify for participation in the CBN-anchor borrower in 2017 farming season.

The commissioner said that only 8,700 farmers out of 16,950 the state government trained in 2016 benefitted from from the programme through Bank of Agriculture and Excellent Finance Bank.

“Due to what our farmers went through last farming season, the ministry has decided to begin the process of training farmers that will benefit from  the 2017 CBN anchor borrower”.

“This year we are planning to assist about 80,000 farmers to benefit from this programme, most of these farmers are expected to engage in massive production of rice, yam, soya beans etc”.

“Last year, 16950 farmers  were trained to benefit from the CBN anchor borrower but due to some challenges only 8,700 farmers benefitted through the Bank of Agriculture and Excellent Finance Bank”.

“The impact of this programme is the massive rice production by Benue framers in 2016 cropping season”, James said.