The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Benue State Government towards the implementation of the Sustainable Integrated Productive Community (SIPC) Program.
The press statement released by the technical adviser to the Benue State governor on media, publicity and strategic communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev, indicates that the programme aims to enhance agricultural productivity and increase its viability for faster development.
According to Chief Iorpev, the Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, led a delegation to the Minister of Finance, where the Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka Anite, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the Federal Government.
In her remarks, Dr Uzoka-Anite stressed that SIPC is a project designed by the Federal Government to improve the lives of farmers through the provision of solar-powered housing, seedlings, herbicides and fertilisers, and off-takers who convert produce to the secondary products. “Benue is one of the two pilot states, including Niger,” she declares.
Responding, the governor assured that the present administration under his watch is committed to providing 100 hectares of land across the state for the programme, maintaining that it aligns with his vision of resuscitating farming activities to make Benue an agricultural hub of Africa.
Governor Alia stated that when fully operational, the programme will close up the housing deficit in the state, provide free farm seedlings and inputs for Benue farmers, facilitate conversion of produce to secondary products to prevent post-harvest losses and increase food security.
The technical adviser maintained that SIPC is domiciled with the Federal Ministry of Finance, which holds the majority of shares in the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund to fund investigations in Nigeria.
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