Taraba State: All you need to know

Taraba State lies largely within the middle
of Nigeria and consists of undulating
landscape dotted with a few
mountainous features. These include the
scenic and prominent Mambilla Plateau.
The state lies largely within the tropical
zone and has a vegetation of low forest in
the southern part and grassland in the
northern part. The Mambilla Plateau with
an altitude of 1,800 meters (6000 ft)
above sea level has a temperate climate all
year round.
The Benue, Donga, Taraba and Ibi are the
main rivers in the state. They rise from the
Cameroonian mountains, straining almost
the entire length of the state in the North
and South direction to link up with the
River Niger.
Local Government Areas
Taraba State consists of sixteen (16) Local
Government Areas (or LGAs). They are
governed by elected chairmen. They are
as follows:
Ardo Kola
Bali
Donga
Gashaka
Gassol
Ibi
Jalingo
Karim Lamido
Kurmi
Lau
Sardauna
Takum
Ussa
Wukari
Yorro
Zing
Agriculture
The major occupation of the people of
Taraba State is agriculture. Cash crops
produced in the state include coffee, tea,
groundnuts and cotton. Crops such as
maize, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava, and
yam are also produced in commercial
quantity. In addition, cattle, sheep and
goats are reared in large numbers,
especially on the Mambilla Plateau, and
along the Benue and Taraba valleys.
Similarly, the people undertake other
livestock production activities like poultry
production, rabbit breeding and pig
farming in fairly large scale. Communities
living on the banks of River Benue, River
Taraba, River Donga and Ibi engage in
fishing all year round. Other occupational
activities such as pottery, cloth-weaving,
dyeing, mat-making, carving, embroidery
and blacksmithing are also carried out in
various parts of the State.
Culture
The government has made concerted
efforts to improve areas of tourist
attractions like Mambilla Tourist Center,
Gumpti Park and game reserve in
Gashaka; and the Nwunyu Fishing festival
in Ibi, which is usually held in April of each
year where activities such as canoe
racing, swimming competition and
cultural dances are held. Other festivals
are Purma of the Chamba in Donga,
Takum and jibu culture dance in Bali, the
Puje of Jukuns, Kuchecheb of Kutebs in
Takum and Ussa[3], Kati of the Mambilla
and host of others. Taraba is called
"Nature's gift to the nation" as the state is
rich and have many ethnic groups,
including Jenjo, Jibana, Kuteb Chamba,
Yandang, Mumuyes, Mambila, Wurkums,
Fulanis, Jukun, Ichen, Tiv, Kaka, Panso,
Kambu, Wawa, Vute, Tikari, Hausa and
Ndola.