Benue State government has disclosed plans to establish an International Food Basket Market with Makurdi, the state capital, as part of measures to showcase its rich agricultural heritage and boost its food production capacity.
Governor Samuel Ortom, who announced this in Makurdi when he received executives of the National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers, said the government is negotiating with members of the community at Agan in Makurdi Local Government Area for the acquisition of about 500 hectares of land for the establishment of the market which would have state of the art facilities.
The Governor urged the Commissioner for Agriculture and his Trade and Investment counterpart to liaise with the Association’s President to look into the requests and proposals they brought to his office for consideration.
The Governor pledged his administration’s readiness to support the association to carry out its activities, saying he was impressed by the National President’s struggles over the years to succeed despite challenges.
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Earlier, the President, National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers, Simon Irtwange, called on the state government to support private sector investment in the production of cartons for yam export packaging.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
