By Peter Amine
The Benue Government is partnering with Mass International & Equipment Limited and SABASPAC, to boost agriculture in the state through mechanised farming.
Gov. Hyacinth Alia, at the official flag-off of the agricultural mechanisation outgrower programme in Makurdi on Wednesday, said that the partnership was to encourage farmers to boost food sufficiency.
Alia, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Sam Ode, said that his administration was determined to restore Benue to its status as the Food Basket of the Nation.
The governor said that the scheme, which would give farmers cooperative societies to own tractors and other equipment, was a pathway to economic prosperity.
He assured the farmers that their request for the government to subsidise the cost of the tractors would be looked into.
“Today 10 clusters of farmers, comprising about 300 farmers, will participate in this pilot scheme. Each of the cluster is empowered with one tractor. The scheme will support farmers by integrating the farmers into a structured agricultural value chain.
“The programme is designed to improve agricultural productivity through mechanised agriculture, provision of inputs, technical support and structured guaranteed produce markets for the farmers.
“The objective of this programme is to boost food security, commercialise agriculture in Benue and boost economic independence amongst smallholder farmers.
“For today’s programme, farmers will be supported with agricultural implements and equipment, inputs, improved seedlings, extension agents, technicians and tractor operators,” he said.
Benjamin Ashaver, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, in his remarks, said that the initiative was a practical step in making agriculture more productive.
The commissioner said that Benue would continue to lead innovative initiatives to boost agricultural production in the country.
He said that Alia’s administration, particularly in the area of agriculture, would continue to empower youth and women to ensure inclusive growth in Benue societies.
The Director-General (D-G), Bureau for Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, Ms Benita Shuluwa, said that the agency was charged with the mandate for entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
Shuluwa said that the agriculture mechanisation outgrower programme was to empower and support Benue farmer clusters, through the Benue Agribusiness and Mechanisation Centre (BAMC).
“It is a privilege to collaborate with relevant agencies of government – the Ministry of Agriculture, Bureau of Agricultural Development and Mechanisation and private sector partners like Mass International & Equipment Nigeria Ltd and SABASPAC International, to achieve this feat.
“This programme will provide farmers with the opportunity for land clearing activities in partnership with Federal Government agencies such as the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) to promote commercial farms in Benue.
“The governor has further supported IDPs through the creation of commercial farmlands for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to promote entrepreneurship and economic independence amongst them.
“As an agency of government, we off-take agricultural equipment through a favourable structured payment plan to promote mechanised agriculture and boost productivity.
“We create access to inputs such as improved seedlings and agrochemicals as well as access to modern agricultural best practices to enable our farmers to achieve the best results from their farming activities,” she added.
She urged farmer groups to come forward and register their groups to enable them benefit from the programmes in subsequent phases.
Mrs Dooshima Zaki, Acting Director General, Bureau for Agricultural Development Mechanisation, said that the initiative would improve farmers’ access to mechanised farm equipment.
Zaki lauded the governor for transforming the sector.
The President, Mass International & Equipment Limited, Alhaji Muhammed Yaro, said that the partnership was born because of the company’s passion for humanity.
Yaro said that the equipment supplied to Benue Government were the best in the current global market.
The Mass International president said that they were established to subsidise agricultural equipment to address the challenges faced by Benue farmers in terms of mechanisation.
The President, Benue Farmers Cooperative Societies Federation, Mr Elias Iorwuese, appealed to the government to help them subsidise the tractors to restore the lost glory of Benue as the food basket of the nation.
Iorwuese, who lauded the governor for efforts to transform the agricultural sector, said that farmers would reciprocate by supporting his reelection in 2027. NAN
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