The  Chief of Mutumbiyu chiefdom in Taraba State, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed, has advised his subjects to concentrate more on farming of food crops in order to have enough  food for their families.

He gave the advice while addressing his Subjects who paid him Sallah homage at his palace in Mutum-Biyu, headquarters of Mutum-Biyu chiefdom.

The monarch said 99 percent of the residents of Mutum-Biyu chiefdom were farmers but regrettably, majority of them hardly reserve foodstuff from what they produce.

According to him, many of the residents pay more attention to producing cash crops like Melon seeds, Benniseed and Soya Beans without producing crops like Maize, Guinea Corn, rice and Millet which are basic food items.

The Monarch stated that the practice where farmers produce less food crops was counter productive because such farmers always end up without food to feed their families.

He  also  lamented that some of the farmers who produce food crops sell their produce without reserving part of what they harvest, but end up going to the markets to buy foodstuff at a high price from the middlemen they sold their produce  to at lower price during harvest period.

The Monarch further stated that food security started at family level because when h8gh percentage of  members of the community  do not have food to feed themselves such community would not have peace.

He asked farmers to understand the importance of food reserve which is a better means of ensuring food security for the household.
On security issue, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed, urged  his subjects to  be security conscious and stop harbouring criminal elements who pose threat to the community.

He warned people who are planning evil to stop such, saying if they continue, they would be exposed.