From Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The State Programme Coordinator, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)- Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Benue, Mr Emmanuel Igbaukum, has blamed insecurity for hampering agricultural activities in Benue state.
Mr. Igbaukum stated this during advocacy visits to update the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Moses Ogbaji and the Director-General, Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Dr Jerome Andohol on the progress of the organisation on Friday in Makurdi.
The Coordinator reiterated that insecurity occasioned by herders continuous attacks on farming communities in parts of the state has greatly whittled down agricultural activities.
He lamented that some of the farmers that IFAD had assisted with inputs were displaced from their ancestral homes and were taking refuge in various camps across the state. A development which has made the efforts of no effect as earlier targeted.
“Those farmers aided, are no longer into farming as a result of their displacement from their farm lands into IDP camps. We are hoping that government at all levels would join hands to nip the ugly situation which had lingered on for years in the bud in order to boost food security,” Igbaukum said.
He disclosed that IFAD had assisted 53,000 farmers in the state since the take off of the programme in 2014, adding that, apart from supporting them with inputs, IFAD carry out capacity building on the farmers especially on Good Agronomic Practices (GAP).
Responding, the Director-General Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Dr Jerome Andohol commended IFAD for supporting farmers with inputs to ensure food security.
He urged IFAD to venture into agricultural activities that would have direct bearing on the people, assuring that the commission would put modalities in place to address the challenge of counterpart funding.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof. Moses Ogbaji, who said that the government was satisfied with the performance of IFAD in the state, pointed out that, “herdsmen attacks on farmers had reduced because of the efforts of Gov. Hyacinth Alia which have begun yielding positive results in that regard”.
The Commissioner who disclosed that the state had been enrolled into the dry season farming scheme of the FG, which would come with dams, also assured that the state government would meet her counterparts obligations without delay.
