By Amos Aar
THE STATE Programme Coordinator (SPC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) in Benue, Mr Emmanuel Igbaukum, has advised farmers against indulging in sharp practices in order to cheat investors as well as off-takers.
Igbaukum gave the advice on Tuesday during a Commodity Pricing Committee meeting in Makurdi, reiterating that if they indulge in sharp practices, they would be discouraging investors or off-takers from doing business with them.
He admonished that that being honest would be to their overall benefit. “You should try to operate in such a manner that it will be a win-win situation for both parties.
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“You should guard your partnership with the investors and off-takers jealously. You should also assist the investors when they have challenges in your communities,” Igbaukum urged.
The state chairman, Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF), Mr Fidelis Chia, said that farmers in the state were very honest, assuring that they would not indulge in any sharp practice as advised by the coordinator.
The founder, Impact Grains Limited, Engr Jonah Ukpai, appealed to farmers to supply only standard and quality rice paddy to the company, emphasising that he believed that Benue farmers had the capacity to supply them with the needed product.
Ukpai further disclosed that it was the desire of the company that farmers in the state should witness true transformation in their various communities through agriculture.
Meanwhile, the IFAD Business and Market Development Officer, Mr Isaac Okwu, charged farmers to give investors as well as off-takers the desire cooperation for their overall good.
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Also, the IFAD-VCDP, Rural Finance Officer, Mrs Rosemary Iorngirim, said that farmers in the state were in dire need of funds in order to step up agricultural activities so as to adequately tackle food security.
Iorngirim sued for support for farmers from investors and off-takers to enable them actualize their good intention of producing enough food to feed the nation.
