BENUE GOVT TO BUY OFF GRAINS FROM FARMERS.

The Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC) is to spend more than N500 million to mop up grains from farmers to enhance value for money during post harvests sales.


Mr Alfred Adem, the General Manager Investments, Risk and Assets Management, said the State Government would want farmers to gain both in sales of produce and during harvest.


Adem, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, said the option would encourage food security and standardisation of food prices.


“After harvest, middlemen usually come to purchase all farmers’ produce at cheaper rates, leaving the state with no food or money worth what was spent on planting the crops,’’ he said.


The manger explained that the government intervention plan was to assist farmers against post harvest loss where issues of transporting produce and proper storage was a challenge.


“The first strategy will be the use of licensed buying agents to get the grains for us, the
farmers and traders are familiar with these agents, and this will make it easier for us.


“The second is the BIPC’s designated warehouses, we will advertise to the public to bring their produce for direct sales.


“We will evaluate for quality and specification, then we will weigh and buy them off from the farmers,’’ he said.


Adem said there were various warehouses in Markurdi, Gboko Aliade, Ihugh, Naka, Wannune and Otukpo with other small collection centres across the state.


According to him, the warehouse in Makurdi can store 35,000 bags of grains; the storage facilities are well inspected during constructions to suit the storage of grains.


He said the company intended to sell grains during the planting season at subsidised rates to farmers too.


Adem said the company was a profit making organisation that aimed at exporting services. By benue.com.ng.