Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has initiated an extensive mechanized farming project spanning 6,000 hectares across the state to aid the displaced communities.
This initiative aims to provide a sustainable livelihood for those affected by displacement.
The project, executed through the State-owned Agricultural Services Training Centre and Marketing Limited (ASTC&M Ltd), was officially launched in Mangu Local Government by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Samson Bugama.
Bugama stated, “Today marks the beginning of a comprehensive engagement in the field. The strategy is to provide mechanization services to displaced communities and help them return to their livelihoods.
“The intervention targets a minimum of 3,000 hectares, with the potential to expand to 6,000 hectares as resources permit.”
Bugama emphasized, “The Governor has commissioned the mechanization service intervention. We are targeting 6,000 hectares as resources are available and would do the minimum of 3,000 hectares. We will provide seeds to bring a bumper harvest and provide food.”
The initiative focuses primarily on displaced communities but may extend to other areas depending on resource availability.
“Our major goal is to resettle displaced communities back into their farming activities,” Bugama said, highlighting the Governor’s concern about the ongoing hunger problem and the need to boost food production.
ASTC&M Ltd’s Managing Director, Susan Bentu, explained that the four-week cultivation period would encompass various areas in the state’s three zones, focusing on crops such as maize, potatoes, and rice.
“ASTC is a household name, we are dedicated to assisting farmers, whether in rain-fed or dry seasons. This intervention programme which starts from crop cultivation to harvest is free, the State government covers all the costs,” Bentu noted.
The intervention will cover multiple communities across the Northern, Central, and Southern Zones of the state.
“The communities in the Northern Zone include Jol, Wereng, Kwi, Rim, Bachit, Sho, Vom-Chol, some parts of Jos East, and the Breweries and Agricultural Research Company, BARC Farms. The Central Zone will cover Tam, Aloghom, Vodni, Pushit, Changal, Kombili, Washna, Larkas, Longkat Irrigation, Chip, Mabel, Butura, Manguna, and Mbar communities. The Southern Zone will include Wase River, Shendam Dam, Jenta Yelwa, Shimangkar, Pandam, Sabon Gida, Namu, and Gidan Adamu,” Bentu outlined.
The programme aims to empower local farmers, enhance food security, and stimulate economic stability.
“Our vision is to raise self-sufficient farmers, financially stable and empowered, contributing to the State’s food security and economic stability,” Bentu stressed.
In addition to supporting displaced farmers, the initiative includes a youth empowerment programme at BARC farms.
“We will go to the three Senatorial zones on different days. It is an intensive programme and we are set to change the narrative where agriculture is concerned in the State,” Bentu said.
The ASTC has equipped the project with a fleet of 300 high-capacity tractors, and personnel are motivated and ready to deliver. To safeguard the crops, the state has mobilized local self-help groups and the Agro-Rangers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for early warning signals.
Commissioner Bugama assured, “The government would not allow the wastage of government investment in the communities.”