Benue Farmers Give Surety For Food Security To Nigerians Amid COVID-19
Benue Farmers Give Surety For Food Security
Erdoo Due
Sufficiency will be achieved in post harvest 2020 following the increasing number of participants in farming activities in Benue State reputed as “Food Basket” of Nigeria’s nation. Investigation carried out by The Transmitter revealed that farming fields have become a beehive of activities as families, individuals, agricultural based cooperative societies, companies and government jostle for farm lands. For the first time, the business of farming has become one of the major preoccupations of township inhabitants. Before now, farming was mostly the business of peasant dwellers and a few commercial farmers.
According to Mr. Ayati Iorza who was seen in a farm, working with his family, the new trend is necessitated by the policy introduced by the government of Benue State. Iorza said himself and the workforce of Benue State (Civil Servants) has followed the directive by the Ortom led administration, that every worker should own a farm.
Another farmer civil servant cum farmer who spoke to The Transmitter was Mr. Kohol Igbana, to him it has become a matter of necessity as he now goes to work Mondays to Wednesdays and to his farm Thursdays to Saturdays. This is a good policy that no one will regret, he said.
A seasoned Agriculturist Mrs. Susan Uza said “with the Corona virus crisis and the rise in goods and services, it is proper as it has become mandatory for everyone to own a farm, so they may contain food crisis.” To her, the season promises fruitful yields as Benue people have never been serious with farm business as shown in this farming season.
An economist, Tavershima Ukende said the Agricultural revolution propagated by the Buhari/Ortom era promises good for the country. He said, Nigeria will suddenly move away from the monolithic oil economy which has killed the Agriculture economy Nigeria was known for.
Nigeria recorded unprecedented surge in rice production following the ban on that staple food. With increased production in other crops like Yam, Cassava, Maize, Guinea Corn, Millet and Soya-beans in Benue State, known for mass production, it is only a matter of time that Nigeria will achieve food security status, in spite of obvious security and Covid-19 challenges.
