BIPC to Authenticate Over 4,000 Registered Orange Farmers

By Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) has finalized plans to begin the verification of orange farmers across the state to confirm the authenticity of the over 4,000 farmers registered during its orange farmers’ registration exercise.

The Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, disclosed this on Friday while receiving transition members of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Benue State chapter, at the company’s headquarters in Makurdi.

According to Dr. Asemakaha, the verification exercise aims to establish a reliable database of genuine farmers who will serve as suppliers of oranges to the company once juice production begins.

He noted that the initiative is in line with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s vision to industrialize the state and ensure that Benue farmers derive full value from their produce.

The GMD further instructed the Head of Business Development and Strategy Department, Mrs. Theresa Abeda, to lead a close collaboration with AFAN to ensure that the verification produces credible and comprehensive data.

Speaking separately, AFAN stakeholders, Prof. Godwin Timun and Agbaugya John, commended the BIPC management for its efforts toward revitalizing the state’s economy, noting that without such interventions, the prices of basic commodities such as bread and water would have risen significantly.

They pledged AFAN’s full support by sharing existing farmers’ data with BIPC and linking the company with its members across the state to achieve a unified and authentic farmers’ database.