Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has approved a 51 per cent subsidy on fertiliser, bringing the cost of a bag down to N28,000 for farmers across the state, in a move aimed at enhancing agricultural output and ensuring food security.
The governor announced the subsidy on Thursday during the launch of the 2026 Fertiliser and Agricultural Inputs Sales and Distribution Programme held at the Benue Fertilizer Blending Plant in Makurdi.
Alia explained that the intervention was designed to cushion the impact of increasing farming expenses and encourage greater participation in agricultural activities throughout the state.
He stated that the fertiliser distribution initiative aligns with the administration’s wider agricultural development plan, which seeks to expand farmland through land aggregation, improve access to quality farm inputs, and increase overall productivity.
“This initiative is not just a seasonal intervention but a deliberate policy direction designed to enhance food security, expand cultivated farmlands through land aggregation, and stimulate rural economic prosperity,” the governor said.
According to him, sustaining Benue’s reputation as Nigeria’s food basket requires strategic investments in modern farming techniques and continuous support for local farmers.
The governor said the 2026 distribution exercise would reach farmers in all 23 local government areas, noting that stricter monitoring mechanisms had been introduced to guarantee fairness and prevent diversion of inputs.
Alia also disclosed that the state government had increased the volume of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs available this year to meet the growing demand resulting from expanded farming activities and land aggregation efforts.
He added that the administration’s agricultural agenda encompasses the construction and rehabilitation of rural access roads, expansion of irrigation facilities to support all-season farming, promotion of agro-processing and value-chain development, as well as training programmes for farmers, youths, and women engaged in agribusiness.
The governor encouraged farmers to take advantage of the subsidised inputs to boost food production and warned officials handling the distribution process to adhere strictly to transparency and accountability standards.
He further cautioned that anyone involved in diversion or other forms of malpractice would face appropriate sanctions.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Benjamin Ashaver, said the era of substandard fertiliser distribution in Benue had come to an end.
Ashaver noted that comprehensive monitoring measures had been put in place to ensure farmers receive only high-quality fertiliser, warning that individuals who circumvent approved procedures or engage in unethical practices would be sanctioned.
The fertiliser distribution programme is expected to benefit thousands of farmers across Benue State as preparations gather momentum for the 2026 farming season.
