The Benue State Government has claimed that rice worth over N8bn has been lost to herdsmen attack this year in the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, James Anbua, disclosed this during a press briefing in his office on Saturday

Anbua, who was fielding questions from newsmen on the aftermath of herdsmen attack on food security in the state, noted that Benue was ranked among the fifth largest producers of rice in the country, with the expectation of bumper harvest this year.

Anbua regretted that the herdsmen attack on the state was coming at the time farmers were harvesting their rice, adding that the local government areas with comparative advantage in rice production because of their terrain were Guma and Logo, both of which are greatly affected by the herdsmen attacks.

“Already, there is a threat to food security in Benue State. Agriculture starts from land preparation; by now, farmers in those areas are supposed to have started clearing lands for the next cropping season, but most of these people are in (internally displaced persons’) camps and they have not gone back to start the process,” Anbua said.

Continuing, he said, “Guma and Logo are the high crops processing areas, but since the farmers are not in their ancestral homes, they can’t talk of clearing lands

“Therefore, the food security is threatened because these people cannot go back to farm and there would not be much farm activities in those areas and there would be shortage of food towards the end of 2018.”

He, however, said that because most of those rice farms were not harvested, the product was lost and that even the little that was harvested was destroyed.

FG Urged To Adopt Netherlands Ranching Practice To End Herdsmen-farmers Clash

Herdsmen-farmers Clash: The President of SBJ Foundation and Consultancy, Vietnam, Mr. Solomon Bamidele Jnr. has called on the Federal Government to adopt the modern ranching practices in countries like Netherlands and other developed nations to end the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in Nigeria.

In a statement, the tourism expert explained that with modern agriculture, there would be no need for open grazing with its devastating effect on farmland in states across the country.

While commiserating with Benue State governor Samuel Ortom, and his Taraba state counterpart over the loss of lives occasioned by herdsmen attack, Bamidele urged them to come out with plans that would put an end to the scourge.

On the migration of Nigeria through Libya to Europe across the Mediterranean Sea, which has resulted in deaths and slavery, Bamidele commended Edo state Governor Godwin Obaseki, for tackling the problem headlong by organising workshop and seminars to educate the migrants on the negative impact of traveling abroad without the necessary documents.

On what he is doing to promote bilateral relations between Nigeria and Vietnam, the tourism expert explained that his organisation intends to organise a seminar on export of agriculture products and bringing in of machines to enhance smooth processing of products in Nigeria, adding that agriculture minister, Mr. Audu Ogbe, and other investors are expected to attend the event.

He said since independence, Nigeria leaders have failed to diversify the economy from oil dependency, which has resulted in economic stagnancy. He said seminars like this will help to move the country foward.

Further, Bamidele explained that through his foundation, he has been able to help many Nigerians who are stranded in their sojourn to seek better life in Vietnam by facilitating their return to Nigeria.

At home here in Nigeria, Bamidele said his foundation is planning to partner Ministry of Women Affairs to uplift less privileged women in rural areas.

Speaking about state of the economy, he commended the Federal Government for its fight against corruption, which he said, was gradually yielding result.