Benue Govt launches pilot scheme to power 10 farm clusters with inputs

The Benue State Government has officially inaugurated a Pilot Scheme of the agricultural mechanization outgrower programme to boost food production in the state.

The ceremony was performed at the headquarters of the Bureau for Agricultural Development and Mechanization in Makurdi.

The initiative is the product of collaboration between the Bureau for Agricultural Development and Mechanization, Mass International and Equipment Nigeria Limited, and SABASPAC International Limited, operating under the Benue Agribusiness and Mechanization Centre, BAMC.

Gov. Hyacinth Alia, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Sam Ode, while officially declaring the scheme open, announced that the pilot scheme will directly benefit 10 farm clusters, covering about 300 farmers, who will receive access to tractors, improved seeds, inputs, and structured markets.

He commended farmers for their resilience and assured that government was committed to providing the necessary support.

Gov. Alia noted, among other things, that the presence of credible private partners, such as Alhaji Mohammed Yaro of Mass International, would make mechanization affordable and accessible.

“By dealing directly with manufacturers, the costs of these machines will be significantly reduced, making it easier for the government to provide subsidies.”

In a symbolic gesture, the Governor presented the first tractor key to the President of the Benue State Farmers Cooperative Federation, describing the programme as a “gateway to prosperity and self-sufficiency.”

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Benjamin Ashaver, said the programme is a practical step toward transforming agriculture in Benue.

He further explained that the scheme is designed not only to increase yields but also to create wealth and opportunities, especially for women and young people, emphasizing that, “Benue must continue to lead in agricultural innovation as the food basket of the nation.”

Representative of Mass International, Alhaji Mohammed Yaro, reaffirmed his company’s commitment to supporting the Governor’s vision.

He disclosed plans to establish a tractor assembly and innovation hub in Benue, a move that is 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 emphasized.

Similarly, Mr. Elias Ameh of SABASPAC International Limited outlined the Outgrower Cluster Farm model, developed from extensive research and designed to strengthen smallholder cooperatives.

With more than 120,000 farmers already captured in the programme’s database, he said the initial phase will involve 14 cooperatives representing over 360 farmers.

A revenue model has also been designed to enable farmers to offset costs by offering mechanized services commercially.

The Senior Cooperative Farmers Federation, through a representative, applauded the government’s inclusive leadership and appealed for subsidies on tractors and inputs to ease farmers’ transition into mechanized farming. “We want to return Benue to its rightful place as the food basket of the nation,” he said.

Benue Govt launches pilot scheme to power 10 farm clusters with inputs