Plateau calls for amendment of Land Use Act

Barko, who made the call in Jos at the opening ceremony of the 2013 annual workshop of Farm Management Association of Nigeria (FAMAN), said that the Land Use Act that had been in use since the 1970s was due for amendment and lands which were supposed to be used for agricultural purposes were being put […]

Barko, who made the call in Jos at the opening ceremony of the 2013 annual workshop of Farm Management Association of Nigeria (FAMAN), said that the Land Use Act that had been in use since the 1970s was due for amendment and lands which were supposed to be used for agricultural purposes were being put to other uses.
 The commissioner who was represented by the Director of Agricultural Services, Mr Daniel Diyelong, also called for attitudinal change on the part of farmers to enable them benefit from innovations from federal government’s ATA, adding, “This change of attitude involves ability to learn new ideas and honesty on the part of those entrusted with public funds.”
 Earlier in his remark, chairman of the state chapter of FAMAN, Mr Sunday Mancha said that the choice of the theme of the workshop was aimed at gathering new ideas regarding land use, adding, “The theme of this workshop `Land Tenure System and Challenges of Agricultural Development in Nigeria’ which was organised in collaboration with Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is most auspicious now that the ATA is beginning to yield positive fruits.”
 Mancha commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for its Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme, pointing out that its output, outcome and impact were glaring. He, however, appealed to the ministry to compel input suppliers to provide complete packages of fertilizer, seeds, herbicides and insecticides as well as other agricultural facilities.
On his part, zonal controller of NEPC, Mr Samuel Oyeyipo, said that the council would continue to partner with organisations whose mandate was to produce non-oil products that could be exported.  Oyiyepo, who was represented by Mr Raphael Ogenyi, said that Plateau was producing exportable products, with NEPC assisting the producers to export them.