To boost agricultural productivity and tackle food security, the Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mrs Dede Ekoue, said IFAD has supported 70,000 farmers in Benue state.
The development was made known on Monday by the Country Director, when she led an IFAD delegation on a courtesy visit to Gov. Hyacinth Alia in Makurdi.
According to her, the intervention had yielded positive results, stressing that the cultivation as well as the production of both cassava and rice had been doubled in the state.
Ekoue disclosed that IFAD had positioned Benue on the agricultural map of the world, explaining that the state was recognized as a champion in agriculture in the 2023 United Nations Food Summit that was held in Rome, Italy.
However, the State governor appreciated IFAD for making a remarkable impact in the state by empowering the youth and women through agriculture.
Alia assured that Benue would continue to partner with development partners, stressing that the state government would always ensure prompt payment of counterpart funding.
He further pledged to create an enabling environment for development partners to strive in the state.