Benue Subsidises Fertiliser By 51%, Flags Off 2026 Distribution Exercise

Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, has approved a 51 per cent subsidy on fertiliser, as the state government officially flagged off the 2026 fertiliser and farm inputs sales and distribution exercise in Makurdi on Thursday.

Under the new pricing arrangement, farmers across the state will purchase fertiliser at a subsidised rate of ₦28,000 per bag, while the government absorbs the remaining cost to reduce production burdens and boost agricultural output.

Governor Alia announced the intervention during the flag-off ceremony held at the Benue Fertilizer Blending Plant, Industrial Layout, Makurdi, describing it as part of a broader agricultural transformation agenda aimed at strengthening food security and rural livelihoods.

He said the initiative goes beyond seasonal support, stressing that it reflects a deliberate policy direction focused on expanding cultivated farmlands through land aggregation and improving productivity across the state.

“This is not just a seasonal intervention; it is a deliberate policy direction aimed at boosting food security, expanding cultivated farmlands and driving rural economic prosperity,” the governor said.

According to him, Benue’s identity as the “Food Basket of the Nation” must be sustained through modern agricultural practices and improved access to quality inputs, including fertilisers, seedlings, herbicides, and extension support.

Governor Alia, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, said the 2026 input distribution exercise will cover all 23 local government areas of the state, with enhanced transparency measures to ensure fair and equitable distribution.

He added that the government has increased the volume of fertiliser and other inputs to meet the growing number of farmers and expanding farmlands under cultivation.

The governor also outlined complementary agricultural interventions, including rural road construction for evacuation of produce, irrigation expansion for year-round farming, agro-processing initiatives to reduce post-harvest losses, and capacity-building programmes for farmers, youths, and women.

He urged beneficiaries to take full advantage of the programme, while directing officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness in the distribution process.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Benjamin Ashaver, warned that the era of substandard fertiliser distribution in the state had ended, adding that strict enforcement mechanisms had been introduced to prevent diversion and malpractice.