Federal Gov’t, IFAD Train 600 Farmers In Budgeting, Farming Techniques In Benue

The FGN/IFAD coordinating office has disclosed that it has successfully trained over 600 farmers across five local governments in Benue State in budgeting, goal setting, saving, credit use, insurance investment, and other farming techniques.

The Benue State project coordinator FNG/IFAD Value Chain Development  Programme Additional Financing ( VCDP), Dr Emmanuel Igbaukum, who disclosed this during a presentation tagged, “The Benue Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF) Models of achievements” said the core objectives of CAF is to improve access to credit, markets, inputs and infrastructure.

According to him, “The five local governments that have benefited from the training include Agatu, Gwer-West, Guma, Gwer-East, and Kwande on budgeting, goal setting, saving, credit use, insurance, and investment, among others.” He added that the training is supported by Winichfarms and Sterling Bank.

He also said other objectives of CAF include facilitating public-private dialogue in agriculture, promoting market transparency and contract fairness, strengthening capacities of financial literacy digital tools, resolving farmer-level conflicts, and monitoring the impact and sustainability of interventions.

The programme tag, a learning visit to Benue State on the Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF) Model, was organised by the National Coordination Office of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme in conjunction with the FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programmes (VCDP and Country Programme Advisory Team (CPAT) held in Makurdi, the state capital, which drew participants from Kano State.

The coordinator explained that the introduction of the Commodity Alliance Forum (CAF), a VCDP initiative under the FGN/IFAD in Benue, is to serve as a farmer-centred coordination platform connecting farmers, processors, off-takers, financiers, and government actions with a goal of building market-driven and sustainable agricultural systems.

Another presentation by the market development officer Agama Sunday, titled “CAF Model, Objectives, Structure and Implementation Strategy for Establishment,” described CAF as an innovation based on the principles of the 4ps model, Public -Private- Producers-Partnership, which brings all stakeholders in Agrobusiness together with all value chain actors.

Earlier, the national coordinator, Dr Fatima Aliyu, urged participants to pay attention to learn new things and then pass the information on to farmers and other colleagues who may not have the opportunity to attend the training.

Represented by the national officer in charge of Rural Institute  Development  Specialist Abuja, Abel Ameh, she commended the Benue State Ministry of Agriculture and FGN/IFAD coordinator for demonstrating a successful Agro-business through their innovations and various programmes that bring farmers and stakeholders together for a win-win partnership.