Okwe Obi and Mark Blessing, Abuja
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on the World Bank and well-meaning organisations to partner with the state; to arrest post-harvest losses.
Ortom, who attributed the development to the perennial impasse between farmers and herdsmen, disclosed that the state is in dire need of water, roads and electricity.
Represented by the Vice Chancellor, Benue State University, Prof. Moses Kembe, at the West and Central Africa Post-Harvest Congress and Exhibition (WCAPHCE) held in Abuja, on Tuesday, the governor said that the law prohibiting open grazing is aimed at relaxing communal crisis.
He said: “Benue state government is passionate about the provision of water, road and electricity.
“I call on the World Bank to partner with the state on project that will alleviate the poor condition of our citizens.
“Development in any nation cannot thrive without adequate security. This brings to the fore another agricultural setback issue in the state.
“As I speak, most of our farmers are displaced due to farmers, herders/bandits crises that has rocked the country, with Benue State being the worst hit.
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“This has forced farmers to abandon their farms unharvested. In some cases, the seedlings have completely been destroyed. There is need to find a lasting solution to the menace.
“In Benue State, we feel that the enactment of Open-grazing and Establishment of Ranching Law 2017, will help to bring peace among the people in the state.
“We therefore urge the Federal Government to help us implement the law,” he noted.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director, Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute, Prof. Olufemi Peters, maintained that the event was put together to arrest the disturbing trend.