Benue Launches 5-Year Strategic Food Security Plan

The Benue State Government has officially endorsed and launched a comprehensive five-year Strategic Food Security Plan designed to revitalize agricultural yield, enhance rural livelihoods, and tackle the persistent security challenges threatening crop production across the state.

Unveiled under the Enhancing Food Security and Peacebuilding in Nigeria through Strategic Planning Project framework, the policy framework brings together key agricultural stakeholders, local farming associations, traditional leaders, and academic researchers to establish a unified roadmap for sustainable economic growth and peacebuilding in the region.

Speaking at the formal unveiling in Makurdi, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Benjamin Ashaver, represented by the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Danjuma Adejo, called on all state ministries, local government councils, and traditional institutions to take full ownership of the strategic blueprint. He reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration to ensuring full implementation of the policy, highlighting that a scheduled mid-term review will take place in 2028, followed by a final evaluation in 2031.

The strategic plan addresses deep-seated structural issues resulting from recurring farmer-herder conflicts, farmer displacement, climate pressure, and market disruptions that have strained Benue’s position as Nigeria’s primary agricultural hub. Presenting the technical details, policy experts emphasized that the initiative focuses on stabilizing rural production zones, clarifying land governance structures, expanding local logistics channels, and boosting market access for smallholder farmers. State authorities reiterated that restoring security to farming communities remains central to achieving long-term food availability and economic stability.