August 09, (THEWILL) – The Association of United Farmers in the Benue Valley (AUFBV) has distributed farm inputs to traditional rulers and displaced farmers in Agasha community, Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, to boost agriculture in the area.
Performing the ceremony, the President of the AUFBV, Mr. Dennis Denen Utsa, explained that Agasha is one of the communities the association carried out soil tests and was found suitable for planting rice, soybean, maize, millet, and cassava among others.
He cited the commitment of the youths and women of the area as the reason for the gesture, adding that if empowered, they will do better in life.
Utsa pointed out that the community, over time, was attacked by herders hence the need for the project aimed at rehabilitation to recover from losses incurred.
The AUFBV President said although 3,000 farmers were assessed, provision was made for only 1,000 at the moment due to the high cost of seedlings in the market.
“It is our hope that the 3,000 farmers will be accommodated with time because Governor Hyacinth Alia will come in due to his body language,” he said.
Utsa said other communities like Iwa Anyam and Mbakyase in Konshisha Local Government Area, Ber Agbum in Ushongo Local Government Area and Aondoana in Gwer West Local Government Area are next in line.
The AUFBV President, who disclosed that 10,500 people have been registered to benefit from the scheme this year, urged the Benue State Government to intervene.
The Acting Mue Ter Nonguv, a second-class Chief, HRH, Samuel Ger, who received the items on behalf of his people, described Agasha as an agrarian community.
Chief Ger, who appreciated the gesture, said the people of the area will embrace the scheme, saying it is capable of stepping up their economic fortunes if properly utilised.
“It is food production that will sustain families in the areas of feeding, payment of school fees, and hospital bills among others,” he said.
Chief Ger, who commended the AUFBV for the gesture, promised to mobilise his people to comply with the repayment conditions.
He appealed to both the Federal and Benue State Governments to fast-track the construction of the Asukunya – Agasha – Aligbe road, and that of the Abinsi junction – Agasha – Tyulen – Tse Abi linking river Katsina-Ala cross point.
The youth leader of the area, Mr. James Aondohemba Timve, remarked that Kaambe and Nonguv have cherished farming and are involved in NGO programmes which have been successful in the past years.
He commended the AUFBV for the gesture and pledged to mobilise youths to ensure the success of the scheme to better their lives.
Items donated include bags of soybean, maize, millet, rice, cassava stems, and chemicals among others.
