Benue Govt Moves to Transform Agriculture With Private Sector Support

The Benue State Government has entered into a partnership with Mass International & Equipment Limited and SABASPAC to boost food production through mechanised farming.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by his deputy, Mr. Sam Ode, disclosed this at the official flag-off of the Agricultural Mechanisation Outgrower Programme in Makurdi on Wednesday.

He said the initiative was designed to restore Benue’s status as the Food Basket of the Nation by empowering farmers with tractors, modern equipment, improved seedlings, technical support and guaranteed produce markets.

“As a pilot scheme, 10 clusters of about 300 farmers will benefit today. Each cluster is being empowered with one tractor to integrate them into a structured agricultural value chain,” Alia said.

The governor added that farmers’ request for subsidised tractors would be considered, stressing that the programme was aimed at ensuring food security, promoting commercial agriculture, and achieving economic prosperity for smallholder farmers.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Benjamin Ashaver, described the project as a practical step towards making farming more productive, adding that the government was committed to youth and women empowerment in the agricultural sector.

The Director-General of the Bureau for Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, Ms. Benita Shuluwa, said the programme would also support land clearing in collaboration with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), and provide IDPs with access to commercial farmlands.

Mrs. Dooshima Zaki, Acting DG of the Bureau for Agricultural Development and Mechanisation, lauded the governor for improving access to modern farming equipment.

On their part, Mass International & Equipment Limited President, Alhaji Muhammed Yaro, assured that the equipment supplied were of top global standards and would be provided at subsidised rates to ease farmers’ burden.

The President of the Benue Farmers Cooperative Societies Federation, Mr. Elias Iorwuese, commended the government’s efforts, while urging it to further subsidise tractors to revive Benue’s lost agricultural glory.