….launches 33 tractors, N380m credit facility for farmers
The Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia at the weekend stepped up his government’s intervention efforts in the agriculture sector with the hope of reviving farming activities to guarantee food security.
Governor Alia commissioned 33 new Tractors and disbursed N380mollion (about $250million) cheques to community interest groups to undertake climate smart agricultural activities in the state.
The fund is being provided under the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) scheme of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) scheme.
Governor Alia, who has already paid N1billion as counterpart funding for the ACReSAL programme, at the commissioning expressed his administration’s commitment towards providing the needed support for the programme to continue to thrive in Benue for the overall good of the people of the state.
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He appreciated the relentless efforts of ACReSAL in safeguarding the environment.
The Benue State Govermoe said that his government is proud to collaborate on a project of such consequence, designed to improve the lives of the people of Benue.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula in a statement said, Alia also pronounced the immediate creation of ACReSAL as a new Agency of government in the state for the purpose of knowledge and skills transfer.
He said Benue like many other states in the country, share numerous challenges such as high poverty rates, a fragile environment, conflicts, degradation of natural resources, low agricultural productivity, climate-related risks, saying addressing such challenges require collective efforts.
“Addressing these multifaceted issues necessitates a concerted effort across various sectors. The ACReSAL project is specifically tailored to bolster institutions and implement activities that mitigate the environmental impacts of climate change. This includes supporting efforts aimed at landscape management, improving community livelihoods and resilience, and strengthening institutional frameworks.”
He urged the beneficiaries of the Community Revolving Fund (CRF) to exercise diligence and prudence in managing the resources, assuring that the 33 tractors commissioned will benefit over 33,000 households in the state annually.
