In a determined and significant move designed to restore its pride as Nigeria’s leading food hub, the Benue State Government has officially inaugurated a Pilot Scheme of the Agricultural Mechanization Outgrower Programme.
The ceremony which took place in Makurdi at the headquarters of the Bureau for Agricultural Development and Mechanization, witnessed key stakeholders in the Agric and agribusiness including private sector partners, and farmer representatives in attendance.
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).
Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who was represented at the event by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Sam Ode, while inaugurating the scheme, 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, adding that the presence of credible private partners, such as Alhaji Mohammed Yaro of Mass International, would make mechanization affordable and accessible.
According to him; “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”.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Benjamin Ashaver, said the programme marked a practical step toward transforming agriculture in Benue.
Ashaver explained that the scheme is designed not only to increase yields, but to also create wealth and opportunities, especially for women and young people, saying; “Benue must continue to lead in agricultural innovation as the food basket of the nation”.
Speaking in turn, the representative of Mass International, Alhaji Mohammed Yaro reaffirmed his company’s commitment to supporting Governor Alia’s vision, and disclosed plans to establish a tractor assembly and innovation hub in Benue which he said is 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”.
In his own remarks, Mr. Elias Ameh of SABASPAC International Limited outlined the Outgrower Cluster Farm model, which he said is developed from extensive research and designed to strengthen smallholder cooperatives.
According to him; “With more than 120,000 farmers already captured in the programme’s database, 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”.
Similarly, 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, saying; “We want to return Benue to its rightful place as the food basket of the nation”.
