FIC Report (Benue State) – Benue State has taken a major step toward transforming its agricultural sector, as Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia underscored his administration’s readiness to fully mechanize farming activities across the state. The Governor made this commitment on Monday, November 17, 2025, during a working visit to the Bureau of Agricultural Development and Mechanization in Makurdi, where he evaluated progress at the tractor and equipment assembly yard.
During the inspection, Governor Alia toured a lineup of 41 newly assembled tractors, built in varying horsepower categories to support different levels of farm operations. He also examined a range of modern agricultural equipment, including harvesters, threshers, planters, fertilizer applicators, excavators, and yam mounders, all designed to enhance efficiency and output in the state’s farming communities.
Governor Alia reaffirmed his administration’s intention to strengthen the existing Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Mass International & Equipment Nigeria Limited (SABASPAC Int’l Ltd.), noting that the partnership—coordinated through the Bureau for Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation led by Ms. Benita Shuluwa and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security—has become a critical engine for Benue’s agribusiness development.
The Governor revealed that the collaboration has already recorded significant success, especially in human capacity development, with over 900 young people trained in tractor assembly, maintenance, and modern agricultural techniques.
He later inspected demonstration plots showcasing innovative seedlings of papaya, cocoa, rice, and oil palm, which are part of the state’s strategy to boost crop diversification and improve farm yields.
Governor Alia directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to begin the immediate deployment of government agricultural lands for the cultivation of improved varieties of oranges, mangoes, and essential grains such as guinea corn, wheat, barley, and sorghum.
He urged farmers across Benue to take advantage of the high-quality seedlings and improved inputs available at the Bureau of Agricultural Development and Mechanization, stressing that the state’s goal of becoming a leading agricultural hub depends on adopting modern tools and practices.
Signed
Irene Iveren Onehi
Head of Centre
Federal Information Center, Makurdi
