‘Why Benue farmers don’t get value for produce’

Iorhemba who is chairman House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources at the Benue State House of Assembly also said that storage facilities and lack of pricing regulations are factors militating against farmers in the state.“Benue farmers don’t get value for their produce because there are no buyers. The farmers can’t access markets and they […]

Iorhemba who is chairman House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources at the Benue State House of Assembly also said that storage facilities and lack of pricing regulations are factors militating against farmers in the state.
“Benue farmers don’t get value for their produce because there are no buyers. The farmers can’t access markets and they don’t have storage facilities as well as pricing regulation,” he said.
The lawmaker, currently aspiring to govern the state, told journalists in Makurdi that if elected in 2015, he would ensure a law to set up Benue marketing board in order to eliminate middle men and enable the farmers to have value for their farm produce.
While lamenting how tomatoes are sold at giveaway prices in Wannune – a locality in the state known for the production of tomatoes in commercial quantity – Iorhemba maintained that he would also woo investors to turn such perishable produce which abound in the state to finished items for better pricing if given the opportunity to serve.
He also appealed to farmers in the state to key into dry season farming by taking advantage of the opportunity created by the state government through the procurement of water pumping machines for the purpose.
“We have done a lot in the area of dry season farming but our people are not keen to key into the plan. The machines have been bought and kept at the Ministry of Agriculture. We appeal to our farmers to show interest so that they can have the machines,” Iorhemba added.