Benue: Gov Alia unveils 2026 fertiliser distribution exercise, subsidises product by 51%

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to agricultural transformation through strategic land aggregation and improved access to farm inputs, unveiling a 51 per cent subsidy on fertiliser for farmers across the state.

The governor made the announcement on Thursday while officially flagging off the 2026 Fertiliser and Other Farm Inputs Sales and Distribution Exercise at the Benue Fertilizer Blending Plant, Industrial Layout, Makurdi.

Alia disclosed that fertiliser would be sold to farmers at a subsidised rate of ₦28,000 per bag, with the state government absorbing 51 per cent of the cost to reduce production expenses and support smallholder farmers.

He described the exercise as more than a seasonal intervention, saying it forms part of a broader agricultural policy aimed at boosting food security, expanding cultivated farmlands through land aggregation, and promoting rural economic development.

According to the governor, Benue’s status as the nation’s food basket can only be sustained through deliberate investments in modern agricultural practices and farmer support programmes.

He noted that his administration is expanding access to quality farm inputs, improved seedlings, herbicides and other support services required to increase productivity and commercialise agriculture on a larger scale.

Governor Alia announced that the fertiliser and input distribution programme would cover all 23 local government areas of the state, adding that measures had been put in place to ensure transparency, equitable access and prevent diversion of the products.

He further revealed that the government had increased the volume of fertiliser and related farm inputs to meet the growing farming population and support the expansion of farmland under the state’s land aggregation initiative.

The governor said the administration’s agricultural agenda also includes the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads to facilitate the evacuation of farm produce, expansion of irrigation facilities for all-season farming, promotion of agro-processing and value addition, as well as capacity-building programmes for farmers, youths and women involved in agribusiness.

Alia urged farmers to maximise the opportunities provided by the programme, while directing officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure transparency, fairness and accountability in the distribution process.

He warned against any form of diversion or malpractice, stressing that offenders would face appropriate sanctions.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Benjamin Ashaver, declared that the era of substandard fertiliser distribution in Benue State was over.

Ashaver said strict monitoring and enforcement mechanisms had been put in place to eliminate irregularities and ensure that only quality farm inputs reach genuine farmers across the state.