Wet Season Harvest:
How Benue Markets Fair
Denen Achussah
Wet season harvest in Benue State has proved impressive; survey by The Transmitter has shown. Although prices of vegetables and spices have depreciated, local farmers say this year’s prices have appreciated far better than last year.
For grains, Ihugh, Jato-Aka and Adikpo have maintained the lead in supplies with Jato-Aka topping the list in terms of prices. Kwata, Agasha, Tom-Atar, Ayilamo, Azege, Anyiin, Zaki Biam, Abeda Shitile, Peva, Gbor, Tyowanye, Wannune also boast of supplying tones of grains to markets outside the state.
Groundnut, rice, Tomato and pepper are the leading farm products in Benue markets. Following closely to these two are Fluted pumpkin and garden eggs.
Tomato and pepper are obtainable in markets including Ihugh, Lessel, Ankyenge, Ubangaji, Adikpo, Tyôwanye, Abwa, Ugbema, Mkovur, Tse-Kucha, Wannune, Buruku, Akpagher, Ikyumbur among several other markets, in large quantities. The period of abundant tomatoes and pepper in Benue State is popularly known as “season.”
At the beginning of the season, prices of pepper opened at Seven Hundred Naira per standard measure and have dipped to as low as Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira per standard measure. In the third week of August, tomato was traded at Three Hundred Naira per basket, representing improvement from prices in early August.
Sughnen Anema, one of the farmers told The Transmitter that tomato values better, when compared with pepper “this season.” Observers say improved prices may not be unconnected to the tax friendly regime the Benue revenue agency has introduced.
Recently, the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) Chairman Andrew Ayabam, announced a review of taxes, allowing a tax friendly regime. This is in addition to exemption of “unnecessary tax heads,” which market operators hitherto groan over.
Meanwhile, the “sweet Benue mangoes” have eased out, having dominated the market at the beginning of spring, up to June.
The third week of August has also witnessed rising prices of groundnuts and rice. Market analysts including Emmanuel Nyata and Akerigba Lawrence attributed rising prices to the “short dry season” that was experienced in the state between the last week of July and the third week of August.
For instance, at Adikpo market, sells of 100Kg of groundnut seeds (without shells) were traded between Thirty Eight Thousand Naira (N38, 000. 00) and Thirty Six Thousand Naira (N36, 000. 00), in the same weight at Ihugh in the third week of August. One of the middlemen, who would not want his name in print said the prices represent improvement in the previous week’s prices.
In the market for vegetables and spices, tomatoes sells opened at Three Hundred Naira (N300. 00) and closed at Two Hundred Naira (N200. 00) per basket as against the previous market day’s Two Hundred Naira (N200. 00) opening price and One Hundred Naira (N100. 00) closing price.
For spices, pepper (Shombu) dipped to Three Thousand Naira (3000. 00) per standard sack and Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N2, 500. 00) while Talubu maintains the price of Three Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N3, 500. 00).
Last week, rice was traded at Twenty Five Thousand Naira (25, 000. 00) and Twenty Three Thousand Naira (20, 000. 00) at Jato-Aka as against last week’s constant price of Twenty Two Thousand Naira (N22, 000. 00).
Aondongu Anyor, a middleman has attributed improvement in market prices to “absence of too many papers – revenue collectors’ receipt- in the market.”
It is understood that the period of the short dry season has affected the entry of new yams into the market. Early rainfall this year enabled Benue farmers to plant yams early, signaling early arrival of yams. In spite of fears expressed by farmers, the rains have resumed and yams may soon take over agriculture commodities in the market.
Also blousing on fields are soya-beans, sesame, ginger, onion, sorghum and bambala nut. Areas that have experienced respite in herdsmen attacks have seen large farms springing up. This is in spite the huge negative impact of the attacks on farming activities in the state.
Only this year, the Benue State Government sold out 50 tractors to farmers to enhance mechanisation. The State Governor Samuel Ortom has announced plans to ensure that farmers have more access to tractors and other farming implements.
