By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
Desirous to ensure food security and restore the state’s position as Nigeria’s leading food producer, Benue State Government has officially inaugurated the pilot scheme of its Agricultural Mechanization Outgrower Programme (AMOP).
The ceremony was held on Wednesday, September 25, at the Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA) headquarters, Makurdi,the state capital.
Speaking during the ceremony, State Governor Hyacinth Alia, who was represented by the State Deputy Governor, Barrister Sam Ode, assured that the state government was committed to providing necessary support to farmers.
According to the Governor, dealing with manufacturers directly, the cost of the machines was significantly reduced, making it possible for the government to provide subsidies.
He also disclosed that the pilot scheme would directly benefit 10 farm clusters, covering about 300 farmers, who would have access to tractors, improved seeds, inputs as well as structured markets.
The Governor symbolically presented the first tractor key to the president of the Benue State Farmers Cooperative Federation and revealed that the programme was a gateway to prosperity and self-sufficiency.
State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Benjamin Ashaver, in his remarks, lauded the programme as a practical step toward transforming agriculture in the North-Central state, revealing that the scheme was designed not only to increase yields but also to create wealth and opportunities, especially for women and young people.
He emphasised that “Benue must continue to lead in agricultural innovation as the food basket of the nation.”
Also speaking, Director-General of the Bureau of Entrepreneurship & Wealth Creation, Ms Benita Shuluwa, stressed the significance of the programme in empowering farmer clusters, pointing that participants would enjoy favourable payment plans for mechanized services and inputs, as well as access to modern best practices and technical support.
Alhaji Mohammed Yaro, who represented a firm, Mass International, while speaking, reaffirmed his company’s commitment to supporting the Governor’s vision and disclosed plans to establish a tractor assembly and innovation hub in Benue, which he noted was expected to create 5,000 jobs and empower thousands of farmers.
He said: “This goes beyond assembling tractors; it is about building a hub for innovation, training, and job creation.”
Mr. Elias Ameh of SABASPAC International Limited, in his remarks, outlined the Outgrower Cluster Farm model, developed from extensive research and designed to strengthen small holder cooperatives, adding that more than 120,000 farmers have already been captured in the programme’s database.
According to him, the initial phase would involve 14 cooperatives representing over 360 farmers, disclosing that a revenue model has also been designed to enable farmers to offset costs by offering mechanized services commercially.
Speaking earlier, Acting Director-General, Bureau for Agricultural Development and Mechanization, Mrs Dooshima Zaki, assured farmers of continued training, monitoring, and support from extension officers.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the tractors.
