Benue State is set to enhance food production through an intensified farming campaign in 2025, leveraging federal government support to revitalize its agrarian economy. Governor Hyacinth Alia announced this after a meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, reaffirming the state’s commitment to achieving 100% farm engagement in the coming planting season.
As part of this initiative, the presidency has fulfilled earlier promises of tractors and farm inputs, equipping Benue farmers with essential resources to maximize productivity. Governor Alia emphasized that Benue, historically regarded as Nigeria’s “food basket”, has a strategic role in combating food insecurity nationwide and aims to set the pace for agricultural resurgence in the country.
Beyond input provision, the state government has taken bold steps to address security challenges, a longstanding barrier to agricultural expansion in Benue. Through the deployment of 100 Toyota trucks to security agencies and local vigilante groups, the government seeks to sustain the relative peace that has encouraged farmers to return to their fields.
Alia credited these security interventions for the “bumper harvest” recorded in 2024, noting that continued progress will ensure that farmers can operate without fear, further solidifying Benue’s role in national food security. Source: Punch Newspaper
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The renewed commitment of Benue State to agricultural intensification presents a significant step towards national food security and economic stability. However, to sustain and maximize the impact of these efforts, stakeholders must consider key factors influencing long-term agribusiness success.
Ensuring Efficient Resource Utilization
The provision of tractors and farm inputs is a critical enabler of mechanized farming, but without proper distribution mechanisms, access disparities could limit overall impact. Transparent allocation systems, cooperatives, and digital tracking of input usage can help prevent resource mismanagement and ensure equitable access for smallholder farmers.
Strengthening Agricultural Value Chains
While boosting primary production is crucial, stakeholders must also develop agro-processing, storage, and logistics infrastructure to minimize post-harvest losses. Investments in grain silos, cold storage, and farm-to-market linkages will enhance profitability and food availability beyond harvest seasons.
Enhancing Climate Resilience and Diversification
Benue’s agricultural drive should integrate climate-smart farming techniques, including drought-resistant crop varieties, water conservation methods, and soil fertility management. Additionally, diversifying beyond staple crops like maize and yam into high-value horticulture, livestock, and agroforestry can strengthen the state’s agribusiness landscape.
Addressing Security for Sustainable Farming Expansion
While the government has made progress in curbing farmer-herder conflicts, sustained peacebuilding and rural security initiatives are essential. Multi-stakeholder collaborations involving local communities, security forces, and agricultural cooperatives will provide a stable environment for long-term investment in farming.
Benue State’s ambitious agricultural resurgence plan aligns with Nigeria’s broader efforts to combat food insecurity and promote agribusiness development. However, achieving lasting success will require a holistic approach that integrates mechanization, value chain development, climate resilience, and sustained security interventions. By addressing these areas, Benue can fully reclaim its status as the “food basket of the nation” and serve as a model for agricultural transformation across Nigeria.
