In a bold and strategic move, the Plateau State government has launched an extensive farming intervention aimed at revitalizing agricultural activities in conflict-affected areas. Facilitated through the Agricultural Service and Training Center and Marketing Limited (ASTC) under the Ministry of Agriculture, this initiative seeks to cultivate 6,000 hectares of farmland across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Governor Barr Caleb Mutfwang inaugurated this mechanized farming initiative to address the severe disruptions caused by recent conflicts, which have led to farm destruction, instilled fear among farmers, exacerbated food shortages, and driven up prices of farm produce.
During the flag-off event in Mangu Local Government, Hon. Samson Ishaku Bugama, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, highlighted the readiness of both ASTC’s staff and equipment. “Today marks the beginning of a comprehensive engagement in the field,” he stated. “The strategy is to provide mechanization services to displaced communities and help them return to their livelihoods.”
The initiative includes the provision of seeds to ensure bumper harvests, focusing primarily on displaced communities but potentially extending to other areas as resources allow. “Our major goal is to resettle displaced communities back into their farming activities,” Bugama added.
To ensure the safety of farmlands, the initiative will utilize agro-rangers and local self-help groups for early warning signals. Bugama assured that the government would implement a monitoring system, including the use of drones, to protect the investment and prevent incursions into the farms.
Addressing the high prices of food items, Bugama noted that the initiative would help increase food production in the state’s major food-producing belts. “Governor Mutfwang is deeply concerned about the hunger problem, and this intervention is a deliberate effort to boost food production and reduce prices,” he explained. “For the communities, these services and seeds are provided free of charge.”
Dr. Susan Bentu, the Managing Director and CEO of ASTC, expressed gratitude to Governor Mutfwang for approving the mechanized cultivation intervention. She detailed that the four-week cultivation would cover areas in the Northern, Central, and Southern Zones of Plateau State, focusing on maize, potatoes, and rice, depending on the zone.
Bentu highlighted ASTC’s commitment to supporting farmers across Plateau State. “ASTC is a household name not just in Plateau State but in Nigeria. We are dedicated to assisting farmers, whether in rain-fed or dry seasons,” she said. “This intervention program is entirely free for the communities, with the state government covering all costs.”
The cultivation, which will last for about four weeks, will see ASTC teams operating in various regions of Plateau State, ensuring the 6,000-hectare target is met. Bentu assured that ASTC’s day-to-day functions would continue alongside this special assignment. “Our vision is to raise self-sufficient farmers, financially stable and empowered, contributing to the state’s food security and economic stability,” she affirmed.
This large-scale intervention is poised to significantly impact the agricultural landscape in Plateau State, providing much-needed relief to conflict-affected communities and bolstering food production for the entire region.
