Benue State Government has inaugurated the pilot scheme of the Agricultural Mechanization Outgrower Programme, marking a new phase in the state’s drive to strengthen food production. The launch took place on Wednesday at the Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA) headquarters in Makurdi.
Speaking during the ceremony, Governor Hyacinth Alia, represented by his Deputy, Sam Ode, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers with modern agricultural tools and resources. He explained that the initiative was designed to lower costs by dealing directly with manufacturers, making it possible for the state to provide subsidies.
According to him, the pilot scheme would benefit 10 farm clusters, covering about 300 farmers, who will gain access to tractors, improved seeds, farm inputs, and structured markets. He symbolically presented the first tractor key to the President of the Benue State Farmers Cooperative Federation, describing the scheme as “a gateway to prosperity and self-sufficiency.”
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Benjamin Ashaver, praised the project as a practical step toward transforming agriculture in Benue. He stressed that the scheme would not only increase yields but also generate wealth and create new opportunities. He added that women and young people would benefit significantly from the initiative, emphasizing that “Benue must continue to lead in agricultural innovation as the food basket of the nation.”
The Director-General of the Bureau of Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, Ms. Benita Shuluwa, highlighted the importance of the programme in empowering farmers. She noted that participants would enjoy favourable payment plans for mechanized services, access to modern farming practices, and technical support to boost productivity.
Alhaji Mohammed Yaro, representing Mass International, assured that his company would support the governor’s vision. He announced plans to establish a tractor assembly and innovation hub in Benue, a move expected to create 5,000 jobs and empower thousands of farmers. “This goes beyond assembling tractors; it is about building a hub for innovation, training, and job creation,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr. Elias Ameh of SABASPAC International Limited explained that the Outgrower Cluster Farm model was developed after extensive research to strengthen smallholder cooperatives. He disclosed that over 120,000 farmers have already been captured in the programme’s database, adding that the first phase would involve 14 cooperatives representing more than 360 farmers. He further revealed that a revenue model had been designed to enable farmers to offset costs by offering mechanized services commercially.
A representative of the Senior Cooperative Farmers Federation commended the inclusive nature of the programme and appealed for more subsidies on tractors and farm inputs to ease the transition into mechanized farming.
Earlier, the Acting Director-General of the Bureau for Agricultural Development and Mechanization, Mrs. Dooshima Zaki, assured farmers of continued training, monitoring, and support from extension agents to ensure the success of the project.