Despite recent security challenges in the state, the federal government chose Benue for the launching of the collaboration between it and the International Fund for Agricultural Developemnt, IFAD. That is a repudiation of the brains behind the recent return of hostilities in the state, as championed by criminal elements that has turned farmers to endangered species. It is also a testament for the recognition of the state as one of the food baskets in the country. The focus is the newly introduced strategic Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF), operating under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program, which seeks to establish robust connections within the agricultural sector, linking farmers, processors, off-takers, financiers, and government entities. The objective is that this will foster sustainable agricultural systems.
The launch event, spearheaded by the National Coordination Office of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Development Programme and the Country Programme Advisory Team (CPAT), brought together farmers from diverse areas in Benue State. The result was the generation of a robust exchange of ideas aimed at boosting agricultural output. The training component of the program engaged a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the agriculture value chain, including farmers’ groups, off-takers, agro-investors, development partners, and government officials, fostering a platform for knowledge sharing.
Dr. Emmanuel Igbaukum, the Benue State project coordinator of the FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme Additional Financing, in his address at the occasion, emphasised the importance of active participation for attendees to effectively transfer the training benefits to farmers in their respective areas.
Dr. Igbaukum outlined the core objectives of the CAF, which include enhancing access to credit, markets, inputs, and infrastructure. He also noted the training already provided to farmers across five local governments in Benue State – Agatu, Gwer-West, Guma, Gwer-East, and Kwande – covering areas such as budgeting, goal setting, saving, credit use, insurance, and investment, with support from Winich farms and Sterling Bank.
