Benue farmers to FG: Walk the talk on crops processing zone

According to the farmers, if established, the project would help in curbing wastage of farm produce.The state known as the food basket of the nation, with at least three million farmers, establishing a crop processing factory was an initiative long awaited.This is because the farmers usually record huge losses every year due to lack of […]

According to the farmers, if established, the project would help in curbing wastage of farm produce.
The state known as the food basket of the nation, with at least three million farmers, establishing a crop processing factory was an initiative long awaited.
This is because the farmers usually record huge losses every year due to lack of storage facilities and available market to quickly dispose of perishable food items which often are wasted, leaving the farmer with little or nothing to show for his labour at the end of each farming season.
However, with the federal government’s recent resolve in the state, as well as in Niger and Kogi states in the North-Central to establish crop processing factory, the Benue farmers have expressed optimism that the challenges facing them during post-harvest period would soon become a thing of the past.
One of such farmers, Henry Iorkayse, who owns an orchard in Buruku area of the state, said that the development would enable fruit farmers like him to bring their produce to the state capital, Makurdi, where the proposed site for the project is located, for processing.
“It is a very good idea that would benefit farmers like me to curb huge losses from perishable items due to lack of available market to dispose our produce within a time bound,” he said.
Similarly, the Chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in the state, Aondona Hembe Kula, appreciated the federal government for choosing Benue for the project as he expressed his optimism that the factory, when built, would encourage the farmers to expand their farming activities and at the same time make more money.
“We are very excited about the project and we hope that the factory would become a reality to enable our farmers produce more crops and to make more money,” Hembe added.
He, however, appealed to the federal government to ensure that the project sees the light of the day, unlike previous ideas conceived by successive governments such as the cassava initiative that never became a reality and left the farmers demoralised.
On his part, Baba Agan, a citrus and grains farmer, said that he was tired of hearing about the federal government wanting to do this or that and at the end of the day, no one talks about it anymore.
“We are tired of hearing what the federal government plans to do. They should march words with action and get us out of the wood. Every year, I incur losses from my farm produce and I get discouraged. I’m happy about the plan but let government on its part walk the talk.”
Agan, who said he had already been to the site of the project, faulted the location, saying that such project would have been better situated at the bank of River Benue so that wastes from the factory can be flushed into the river.
He doubted the possibility of the project succeeding in the state because in his estimation, the federal government has not organised the agricultural sector to enable the system work like what is obtainable in South Africa.
Agan said: “I would rather prefer that the federal government introduce us (farmers) to the National Investment Promotion Council that will further link us to international factories so that we know where we are heading to with our products.
“This means that the factory should be given an international face and be located in border towns. For instance, the proposed factory in Benue should be sited between the borders of Cameroun and Nigeria and be referred to as international food market.”
However, speaking with our correspondent in Makurdi, the state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Benjamin Kureve, said the yet-to-be established special crop processing factory in the state would focus on horticulture.
He said: “Benue is one of the states chosen for the establishment of special crops processing zones and that is why the Minister for Agriculture recently commissioned the cargo handling airport in the state. The products under consideration are perishable so the facilities are sited here to provide access to fresh produce.”
According to him, the site earmarked for the project is a large expanse of land located in Makurdi, along Gboko road, extending towards Abinsi community which has a stretch of River Benue passing through the area.
Although, no work has yet started at the site, the Director was optimistic that the crop processing factory would create a lot of opportunities not only in agriculture but also for horticultural activities to thrive.
“It is envisaged that plantation would be there, including electricity, water and other basic amenities. The state government gave us the land which extends towards Abinsi. A beehive of activities in fruits processing such as oranges, mangoes and all manner of citrus is expected to take place there.”
Kureve lamented that every year, farmers experience huge losses due to perishable goods, saying that with the factory in place, vegetables of different classes apart from fruits would be processed to boost the state’s economy. He gave example with Kenya that makes money from flowers, saying he is optimistic that Benue will also make agriculture thrive.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Donald Ggbuho, assured of the state government’s readiness to partner with the federal government on the realisation of the project in the state.
He said: “Our government is ready to partner with the federal government on the project. That is why we have designated a place along Gboko road for the building of the factory. It is a very large expanse of land. The surveyors are yet to move to the site for proper surveying so I can’t exactly tell you the situation. But, I know that the land is large.”
Gbugho added that the factory is expected to process horticulture produce, fruits and seedlings such as, beni-seeds among others.