Farmers, consumers excited as new yam floods Benue markets

Yam consumers in Benue State are delighted as the produce now flood several markets in the state, making it easier for families to feed in the face of the current economic hardship. Some consumers, who spoke to Daily Trust in Makurdi, said they were happy that yam, which most people regarded as the ‘king of […]

Yam consumers in Benue State are delighted as the produce now flood several markets in the state, making it easier for families to feed in the face of the current economic hardship.
Some consumers, who spoke to Daily Trust in Makurdi, said they were happy that yam, which most people regarded as the ‘king of all crops’ was now available and affordable to the low income earners.
Mrs. Mary Akwaya said in view of the fact that Benue people relish pounded yam, most families are excited at the harvest of new yam, either directly from their farms or bought at cheaper rates from the markets.
“You know Benue people can’t do without yam. We are happy at last that farmers are bringing to market the new yams from their farms. This will cushion the hunger that most family suffered earlier on between March and June this year,’’ Akwaya said.
Similarly, Ede Felix, a farmer of Igede extraction in the state is optimistic that the arrival of this year’s new yam has in no small measure reduced the burden of many families who relied on the produce for their various food needs such as pounded yam, fried or cooked yam and porridge yam among others.
He said: “The harvest of new yam will solve severe hunger. Although, we the Igede people cannot begin to eat our new yam now until we celebrate the new yam festival in September. I’m, however, delighted at the bumper harvest from my farm this year.”
Another consumer, Adikwu Ogbole, said he was happy that the new yam has come at a time the price of rice had skyrocketed in the market beyond the reach of the poor man, adding that the new yam was cheaper and affordable by sizes for people like him. 
Meanwhile, some farmers said the consumers were yet to experience any abundance of the new yam because no big time harvests had commenced yet.
Oche Idoko, a farmer based in Ogobia-Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, explained that though some farmers have begun to sell their produce in the various markets across the state, the real harvest would not commence until October.
According to Idoko, the harvest was likely to be good due to enough rainfall except for the fact that most of the farmers were unable to procure subsidised fertiliser from the state government as a result of the late arrival of the product at the Ministry of Agriculture.
A yam farmer in Logo area of the state, Mr. Tor Aca, who sourced for fertiliser from the open market, expressed satisfaction that his yam turned out very good. He, however, said he would wait until October to harvest.
Otukpo-based yam farmer, Maria Oko, said she would begin proper harvest between December and January, maintaining that “there should be bumper harvest of yam in the state this year because we had good rainfall.”
Oko said the farmers were yet to begin mass harvest though the produce was already flooding the markets to the delight of consumers at a time people in the state were experiencing its worst financial woes.
“Proper harvest is still pending and consumers are already excited. We will definitely overcome the hard times, having beaten the odds at planting season as many farmers due to paucity of fund couldn’t purchase fertiliser and other inputs for their farms,” Oko said.
In the same vein, Festus Okoli, a yam consumer in Makurdi, said he couldn’t be happier than presently as his family had found solace in yam delicacy since the new produce hit the market.