By moses Iorfa

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has unveiled a 51 per cent subsidy on fertiliser for farmers, bringing the selling price down to ₦28,000 per bag. The announcement was made on Thursday during the flag-off of the 2026 Fertiliser and Other Farm Inputs Sales and Distribution Exercise in Makurdi. The initiative is aimed at improving agricultural productivity and strengthening food security across the state.

The Benue State Government has commenced the 2026 Fertiliser and Other Farm Inputs Sales and Distribution Exercise with a 51 per cent subsidy on fertiliser, reducing the cost to ₦28,000 per bag for farmers across the state.

Governor Hyacinth Alia announced the subsidy on Thursday while officially flagging off the distribution exercise at the Benue Fertilizer Blending Plant in Makurdi.

According to the governor, the intervention is designed to ease the burden of rising production costs on farmers and encourage increased cultivation as part of efforts to enhance food security and agricultural development.

Alia stated that the fertiliser distribution programme forms part of the administration’s broader agricultural transformation agenda, which includes land aggregation, expanded cultivation and improved access to quality farm inputs.

“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.

He noted that sustaining Benue’s reputation as the nation’s food basket requires continued investment in modern agricultural practices and support systems for farmers.

The governor disclosed that the 2026 distribution exercise would cover all 23 local government areas of the state. He added that transparency measures had been strengthened to ensure equitable distribution and prevent diversion of fertiliser and other farm inputs.

According to him, the government has increased the quantity of fertiliser and related inputs available for distribution in response to the growing number of farmers and the expansion of cultivated land through aggregation initiatives.

Alia further highlighted other components of the administration’s agricultural strategy, including the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads, expansion of irrigation systems for all-season farming, promotion of agro-processing and value addition, as well as capacity-building programmes for farmers, youths and women engaged in agribusiness.

The governor urged farmers to take advantage of the subsidised inputs to boost food production and warned officials responsible for distribution to maintain fairness, accountability and transparency.

He also cautioned against diversion and other forms of malpractice, stressing that offenders would face sanctions.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Benjamin Ashaver, said the state had put an end to the distribution of substandard fertiliser.

Ashaver stated that strict monitoring and enforcement mechanisms had been introduced to ensure that only quality fertiliser reaches farmers. He warned that individuals found bypassing established procedures or engaging in malpractice would be sanctioned.

The fertiliser distribution exercise is expected to support thousands of farmers across Benue State as preparations intensify for the 2026 farming season.