His company will establish dedicated grain hubs where off-takers could purchase directly to ensure that farmers receive value for their money, stressing that the initiative will enforce standardized measurements and prompt payments upon delivery
Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC, has disclosed that it has concluded arrangements aimed at off-taking agro commodities produced by Benue farmers across the state through warehouse receipt system to make the state a grain hub in the country.
Managing Director of BIPC, Raymond Asemakaha who disclosed this during a meeting at his office in Makurdi, when he hosted key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, including the Benue Traders Association and the Benue Farmers and Traders Protection and Development Association, said the initiative will address food insecurity and improve the economic condition of farmers in the state.
He emphasized the urgency of the initiative, which will also stabilize prices of food items in the state against the current situation where the state which is referred as the ‘Food Basket of the Nation’ has in the past witnessed higher prices of food items more than other neighbouring states, stressing that the move will also stabilize prices especially for local consumers.
He pointed out that with the support of local traders, BIPC intends to position the state as a grain hub, through facilitating the aggregation and sale of agricultural products to external buyers, adding that the company has planned to mop up produce from farmers at reasonable prices and sell it directly to traders from outside the state for farmers to have better benefits.
The BIPC M/D also told the visiting groups that his company will establish dedicated grain hubs where off-takers could purchase directly to ensure that farmers receive value for their money, stressing that the initiative will enforce standardized measurements and prompt payments upon delivery.
Asemakaha further explained that the introduced Warehouse Receipt System will ensure that these services are accessible throughout the state, guaranteeing that farmers receive fair value for their produce as well as know how much a unit of their produce costs.
Asemakaha, also revealed that BIPC plans to utilize Benue Sacs for agro commodities, allowing for the tracking and management of farm produce, adding that the initiative will mitigate the risks farmers in the state have been facing which includes not receiving adequate compensation for their goods.
In a remark, President of the Benue Traders Association, Iormua Michael, lauded efforts of the BIPC leadership initiatives and expressed commitment to supporting the company in achieving its objectives.
Also speaking, President of the Benue Farmers and Traders Protection and Development Association, Manasseh Torsue, raised critical issues affecting market operations in Benue State to include lack of government involvement, inadequate market regulations, the absence of standard measurement scales, the promotion of customized sacks, high tax levies from unofficial sources, and numerous police checkpoints as significant barriers to market efficiency and called for Government intervention.
On her part, General Manager of Real Estate and Infrastructure, Lucy Jato, expressed gratitude to the members of the Benue Traders Association for their support and encouraged them to embrace the project wholeheartedly, adding that the project which aligns with the transformation agenda of governor Alia will help tackle the 33.1 million food insecurity projected to hit the country by 2025.