Ortom distributes tractors to Benue farmers
Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has distributed fifty units of tractors to Benue farmers with a charge to boost food production in the state.
The governor who performed the ceremony on Thursday at the premises of Government House Makurdi explained that beneficiaries will pay 40% or N5.6 million while government will pay a subsidy of 60% or N8.3 million of the total sum.
He said the N13.9000,00 per unit tractor, according to the governor will be for use only within Benue state as anyone caught flouting the directives will have the facility impounded in addition to losing it entirely.
According to the governor, the twenty three local government area councils in the state is to have one tractor each while association of farmers will get three tractors and the three senatorial districts will also have theirs and called on security Adviser recruit more livestock guards to man all local government areas.
Governor Ortom hinted that the anti-open grazing law was still in force and called on herders intending to do businesses in the state to comply with the law of the state.
He condemned some pockets of violent attacks in the state during which some lives were lost with security agents missing and warned against reprisal attack as perpetrators would be made to face prosecution.
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He stated that a meeting has been schedule with Taraba and Nasarawa state governments aimed at finding a lasting solution to the lingering problems, warning trouble makers between Katsina- Ala and Ukum local government areas will be traced and urged council bosses to maintain peace in their areas.
The commissioner for Agriculture and natural resources, Dr. Ijir said Benue state government has gone beyond talking to practical realities hence the purchase and distribution of tractors to farmers at a subsidized rate.
In a remark, the state chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Aondungu Saaku, commended Governor Samuel Ortom for the gesture and assured that they will cover the land cleared for farming this cropping season.
