The Benue State Government has distributed over 180 trucks of assorted fertilizer to farmers at a subsidized rate.
Engr. Terese Ninga, the Director General of the Bureau for Agricultural Development and Mechanization, informed newsmen on Wednesday that each of the 23 local government areas in the state has received at least two trucks. Ninga emphasized the capital-intensive nature of farming and the necessity of government support for farmers.
He assured that the government would ensure only genuine farmers have access to the distributed fertilizer and farm inputs. Some trucks of fertilizer are also being sold at the Bureau headquarters in Makurdi.
Ninga highlighted that this was the first time since 1982 that the government provided fertilizer and farm inputs at subsidized rates, with a bag of fertilizer costing N17,500. He noted that the State Government aims to support farmers to keep food prices affordable, reinforcing the governor’s efforts to boost food production and enhance food security in the state.
He further explained that the Bureau, a merger of the Benue State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (BNARDA) and the Benue State Tractor Hiring Authority (BENTA), would have about 104 agricultural extension workers by the end of the cropping season. Initially, there were only five extension staff, but due to retirement, they were down to three. The state government had not hired any extension workers for over 25 years. However, 50 new extension workers are being hired, and casual workers will be regularized, aiming to reach 104 extension workers by the season’s end.
The Bureau has started registering all farmers in the state to determine their exact number, location, and crop types to provide targeted support services. Additionally, plans are in place to address post-harvest losses.
Ninga reiterated the commitment to implementing the governor’s vision for agricultural revitalization in Benue State and appealed to farmers who have paid for inputs but not yet received them to be patient.
