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By George Kajo, Makurdi.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Human Resources, Prof. Moses Ogbaji has revealed that ninety percent of Benue farmers are into subsistence farming, using cutlasses and other tools which accounts for low crop production.
Ogbaji who is a of Professor of crop production, identified lack of agricultural loans and Federal Government’s incentives as some of the reasons that accounts for such a development in Benue State.
He made the disclosure while receiving a copy of the 2020 agriculture performance survey from the team leader of the surveying in Makurdi.
The Commissioner also identify insecurity as one of the major challenges facing Benue farmers, appealed to Federal Government to provide adequate security to enable IDPs to return home and continue with farming activities.
He advised the team to be fair and accurate in their assessment and assured of government commitment to encourage irrigation farming to produce crops in large quantity in the state.
Earlier, while presenting the report, the Team Leader of Agriculture Performance Survey Team from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture Abuja, Engr Wahab Adebowale, explained that data available to them indicate that there will be a significant drop in crop production in the state this year.
According to him, insufficient rain fall will cause many crops to die early this farming season.
According to Engr Adebowale, the increase in the cost of production as a result of high inflation and termite that destroyed maize and other crops were also factors affecting massive food production in Benue State.
He therefore, called on Benue State Government to provide incentives for farmers to engage in irrigation farming.