Ortom urges Nigerians to embark on farming using irrigation

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has called on Nigerians to embrace dry season farming using irrigation as agriculture remains a reliable alternative in the face of dwindling oil prices.

Ortom made the call while flagging off this year’s rice harvesting season at one of his farms in his village near Gbajimba, Guma Local Government Area.

He urged the people to embark on dry season farming using irrigation, saying that the state government has entered into partnership with the International Fund for Agriculture Development, IFAD, to support farmers with massive land clearing, farm equipment and other inputs for mechanized farming.

“With the dwindling oil prices, Nigerians must consider agriculture as a veritable alternative. We in Benue have already taken the initiative. I have told all members of the state executive council to individually encourage farming activities in their communities. Throughout the year, we can do farming here. We have two rivers – Benue and Katsina-Ala Rivers, so sourcing water to irrigate crops is not a problem,”Ortom said.

The governor stated that Benue indigenes could cultivate Rice, Soyabeans and Sesame and sell to boost the economy of the state adding that his administration would provide an enabling environment for them to utilize the entire value chain to their greatest benefit.

On the peace prevailing in the area, Governor Ortom said when he assumed office, he moved quickly to dialogue with stakeholders as well as farmers and herdsmen; a development he said led to the cessation of hostilities between the warring sides.

He said he had also initiated meetings with his counterparts in Nasarawa and Taraba states on ways of ending frequent clashes in the border communities.

“Our government was worried about the possibility of a reoccurrence of the flood that caused havoc on our people so we acted swiftly and averted a repeat of the 2012 disaster. But we need assistance from the Federal Government and international organizations to be able to sustain the efforts so far made,” he stated.

Ortom took part in the harvest of rice on his farm which covers about 150 hectares after visiting his large soyabean farm earlier.

Barnes Agirigi