The strategic importance of agriculture to the nation’s economic sustenance was again brought to the front burner of national discourse recently. The annual States Competitiveness and Good Governance Awards organized by Business Day Limited, a leading business publication in Africa bestowed the illustrious award of Best Performing Governor in Agriculture Development in the country on His Excellency, Governor Samuel Ortom. Benue State under the stewardship of Governor Ortom has consistently evolve innovative measures to leverage on the State’s comparative advantage in agriculture.
Governor Samuel Ortom was found worthy of this recognition based on a number of factors, policies and initiatives he has introduced in the agricultural sector since he assumed office just two years ago. It is encouraging that the achievements of Governor Ortom have not gone unnoticed even by the international media community. His far reaching reforms in the agricultural sector in Benue State on the platform of his Agriculture-driven industrialization policy has helped to make farming inputs like fertilizer more accessible to the average Benue farmer at highly subsidized rate of 38%, a situation that has made it possible for farmers to substantially increase their crop yields and by extension boost their income. Purchase of mechanized agricultural equipment, building capacity for dry season farming, construction and rehabilitation of rural roads including 11 abandoned roads by the previous administration has greatly made for easy transportation of farm produce from the rural areas to the urban centers.
Other areas where the Governor Ortom’s administration has impacted positively on the agricultural sector was the historic signing into law of the Anti-Open Grazing and Establishment of Ranches Law. This singular act demonstrates the political will, seriousness and commitment of the Ortom administration to the welfare, security and peace of farmers especially in the rural communities. This law when fully operational by November this year would finally put to rest the perenial attacks by strange herdsmen on Benue farmers and destruction of their farmlands and means of livelihood. Already, the passage and subsequent signing into law of the Anti-Open grazing law has helped to douse tension in the state and has given farmers a renewed hope towards realizing their potentials in agriculture.
The realities facing the global economy today has made it more imperative now than ever for a return to agriculture. The fluctuating prices of crude oil in the international oil market has negatively affected the revenues and expenditure of most countries who rely heavily on crude oil. With the deserved attention being given agriculture by Governor Samuel Ortom, Benue State is firmly on the path to regaining its lost glory in the sector and firmly re-established her enviable status as the food basket of the nation. Some of the key initiatives by under the pragmatic leadership of Governor Ortom is the facilitation of a N2 billion CBN Anchor Borrowers Scheme agricultural loans for disbursement to Benue farmers. This is addition to the signing of MOU with Bank of Industry to give N2 billion loans to farmers at 5% interest rate in addition to N1 billion available facility from CBN for the same purpose. In the same vein, the release of funds for construction and equipping of laboratory at the Akperan Orshi College of Agriculture, Yandev, and rehabilitation of Agric Training centres in Mbatie and Otobi are all aimed at making the agriculture sector a sustainable employer of labour.
The State Government has also given attention to resuscitating some moribund industries in the state among which is the Wannune Tomato Factory. The current administration is practically working to transform agriculture into a viable business.Similarly, some international contacts have been established by the State government with some prospective investors in the sector. Understandably with international investment issues, it requires time, due diligence and sorting out of logistics and regulatory issues before some of these initiatives come on stream. Certain developmental issues are long term in nature given the investment requirements needed.The recent commencement of export of yams to the USA and Europe by Nigeria also offers a major source of foreign exchange for Benue State given its dominant position in the country as a major producer of yams. As the Ortom administration continues to tackle developmental challenges in different sectors, our people need to keep faith with the administration and continue to offer their support which is a big source of encouragement to our workaholic Governor.
Lawrence Onoja Jnr
Hon. Commissioner for Information & Orientation
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