By Peter Amine
The Benue chapter of the Federation of Agricultural Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN) has taken steps to reposition, reform, reorganise and strengthen commodity associations in the state.
The Coordinator, Benue FACAN, Mr Vitalis Tarnongu, said that the initiative was to reinvigorate the associations to adopt best agronomic practices to boost food production.
The coordinator stated in a letter to the FACAN national president on Monday in Makurdi that a committee had been immediately constituted to review the associations for improved performance and coordination.
Tarnongu said that upon assuming office in March, he discovered that commodity associations were in a comatose state and there was an urgent need to revive them.
“The committee discovered also, amongst other anomalies, that more than 90 per cent of commodity associations’ leadership, against the FACAN constitution, has stayed in office for decades.
“Most of the commodity associations existing in the state are not affiliated with any national office of the association, nor with FACAN.
“Most of the commodities formed in the state are not organised and can hardly benefit from modern agronomic practice; hence, low yield results at harvest time.
“Most crop cultivation in the state is not identified for the purpose of economic planning and growth.
“Leadership of all commodities in the state has no structures, leading to a one-man show, and they do not have addresses/locations,” he said.
Tarnongu solicited the support of the FACAN national secretariat to surmount the challenges. NAN
