Yam farmers and traders in Zaki-Biam in Benue State have challenged the State government to speed up its agricultural revolution programme in other to add value to the product.
The call followed the launch of the State Agricultural Revolution Blueprint by Governor Samuel Ortom in September and the flag-off of work at the Katsina-Ala yam flour processing factory.
The Chairman of Yam Farmers\Traders in Zaki-Biam, Mr Nyaku Iorsoo, said that his association recorded a great loss selling the raw yam.
Zaki-Biam is the largest yam hub in Benue State and Nigeria where over 100 truck-loads of yams are moved to different parts of the country.
One of the transporters from the Zaki-Biam yam market, Moses Ani, told Channels Television that he makes two trips a week to Aba, the Abia State commercial capital.
The Benue State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Tersoo Kpelai, said that the state government, through its programme, had made efforts to address the concern of the farmers and yam traders.
He added that the yam flour processing factory was 98% completed for large scale food processing.
The Chairman of the Benue State Internal Revenue Service, Mimi Adzape-Orubibi, also said that the agency would renew all revenue collection contracts.
The Chairman decried that some of the contractors generate 48 million Naira yearly, only to remit 4 million Naira into the state coffers.
