Benue to clear 21,000 hectares of land for farmers

The Benue State government has said that at least 21,000 hectares of land will be cleared at various locations in the state to make it accessible to farmers. Governor Samuel Ortom made this known in his recent 2017 budget speech presented to the state House of Assembly. He said in addition to the land, tractors […]

The Benue State government has said that at least 21,000 hectares of land will be cleared at various locations in the state to make it accessible to farmers.

Governor Samuel Ortom made this known in his recent 2017 budget speech presented to the state House of Assembly.

He said in addition to the land, tractors would be procured and made available to farmers to buy at 30 percent subsidised rate in order to encourage mechanisation.

The governor also said that his administration will encourage dry season farming and construct several dams across the state as well as develop other irrigation facilities to enable all year round crop production.

Ortom added: “We shall introduce Greenhouse Technology where vegetables and other crops will be produced for exportation and other uses.”

Our correspondent reports that agriculture falls under the economic sector of the document christened ‘Budget for Rural Transformation’ which has the combined sum of N88.9 billon being the lion share of the entire draft of N163.9 billon estimated for the 2017 fiscal year.