Farmers |
The Benue State
government recently commenced the distribution of farm inputs and loans to
20,000 farmers in the state for the cultivation of rice, soya beans, beniseeds
and maize during this farming season.
Governor Samuel Ortom was
represented at the ceremony which took place at IBB square Makurdi, by his Deputy
Engineer Benson Abounu.
The Governor stated
that loans would be given to more farmers to encourage them to embark on
mechanized farming to boost food production and food security. While launching
the scheme to 20,000 farmers across the geo- political zones of the state,
Ortom said his government has mapped out strategies aimed at creating jobs and
wealth for the people of the state.
The Governor said he
expected 30,000 jobs to be created in the state through agro-based scheme. He
enjoined the beneficiaries to use the loan for the purpose for which they were
meant stressing that it was a loan not a donation. The Government, he said
would encourage all year round farming which would be beneficial to both the
farmers and the society at large because it would help farmers to improve on
their productivity and revenue.
The branch controller
of CBN in Benue State, Abba Baba in his remark noted that the choice of Benue
was deliberate because the state was strategic in food production in the
country. The CBN controller added that the programme was also aimed at small
farmer holders with emphasis on rice, soya beans and other crops.
The loans are being
granted to the farmers through their registered co-operative society groups. A
cross section of farmers who spoke to Food Farm News expressed appreciation to
the Federal Government, the central bank of Nigeria and the Benue state
Government for the facility and inputs which they express optimism, it will
boost food production and improve their financial status.
The chairman of AFAN in the State Comrade Aondona Kuhe
advised farmers to ensure judicious use of the loan and farm inputs and avoid
diverting them. The All Farmers Association (AFAN) Chairman thanked the
Government for taking the ordinary farmers along in the efforts to diversify
the economy of the nation now that the oil sector has depreciated drastically.
CASTOR BEAN SEED; AN ALTERNATIVE TO CRUDE OIL- Prof
Lateef Lekan Bello,
The castor
bean seed development by the University of Agriculture Makurdi was sponsored by
the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Abuja.
The Focus
was to involve castor varieties for farmers to plant so that castor oil
processing machines already in Nigeria could have seeds to crush for production
of castor oil.
This is contained in an inaugural lecture
presented by Professor Lateef Lekan Bello, Professor of plant breeding and
Genetics and Director Seed Technology centre University of Agriculture Makurdi.
Titled Genetic Diversity: The soul of improved seed production for
mankind, the professor noted that if attention would be given to the production
as well as marketing of a promising crop like castor in Nigeria, it may go a
long way to reduce the over- dependence on petroleum products for foreign
exchange earnings.
He called on the Minister of
Agriculture who he observed was familiar with the crop and knows the importance
and the role the crop plays in any economy to give it a chance during his
tenure.
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