The Plateau State Government has started cultivating 6,000 hectares of land to help resettle communities displaced by crises across the state.

This effort aims to prepare for the upcoming farming season and provide seeds to farmers to improve agricultural yields and reduce hunger.

The Commissioner of Agriculture, Samson Bugama, announced this during the launch of the cultivation in Mangu LGA.

He said the initiative, called the ‘Mechanisation Service Provision Intervention,’ targets communities affected by unrest and cluster groups across the state.

“Today we will be engaging the field. You can see the tractors are ready, and so are all the staff of the Agric Training Service Centre and Marketing Ltd (ASTC),” Bugama stated. “The strategy is to provide mechanisation services to communities that have been displaced in our quest to return people to their livelihoods.”

Bugama added, “Governor Caleb Mutfwang has decided to engage about six thousand hectares of land. We aim to exceed this across the state. We will also provide seeds for the cultivated land to ensure a bumper harvest as we help people return to their livelihoods.”

“Our priority is to start with displaced communities. As resources allow, we will extend to other communities, but our main goal is resettling displaced communities,” he explained.

Regarding the safety of farmers and their crops, Bugama said, “We have Agro-Rangers with us, and self-help groups in those communities that provide early warning signals. We will use modern technology to monitor these areas and ensure the government’s intervention is not wasted. Governor Caleb Mutfwang is determined to ensure our people return to their livelihoods. All these services and seeds are free.”

Managing Director/CEO of ASTC, Dr. Susan Bentu, added, “This intervention is also for farmers in clusters, including women groups, youth, and religious groups.”