Owing to years of frequent insurgent attacks that have discouraged farmers and relegated agriculture in Benue state, its Governor, Hyacinth Alia has rallied Vice-President Kashim Shettima to resuscitate the sector to return the state to its position as the nation’s food basket.
The state which produces 70 percent of Nigeria’s Soybean and is the largest producer of fruit concentrate and cassava in Nigeria, was in the greatest period of the administration of former Governor Samuel Ortom, affected by the herders-farmers conflict and also insurgencies that forced farmers to abandon their farmlands for safety.
This affected agriculture growth in the state with farm yields plummeting.
Governor Alia described Shettima as a friend whose interest in agriculture will be beneficial to the fortunes of Benue and what to feed to the nation.
“I came to the Villa just to pay homage to the Vice-President for his leanings in Agriculture. We need everyone with the thinking and with the actions that can help us to move from grace to grace in terms of food and food security and basic state security”.
Benue state is one of the seven new states created by the military administration headed by late General Murtala Mohammed on 3 February 1976 and derives its name from the River Benue, which is the second largest river in the country and reputed for the largest freshwater reserve in Nigeria.
The state borders Nasarawa State to the North, Taraba State to the East, Cross River State to the South, Enugu State to the South West, and Kogi to the West. It also shares an international boundary with the Republic of Cameroon and is nicknamed the “Food Basket of the Nation” as a result of its competitive advantage in agriculture.
The state covers a total land area of 30,800 square kilometers and a population of 6,096,869 comprising males, 3,109,403 and females, 2,987,466)
There are three agricultural zones in Benue state: Northern Zone: comprising of Buruku, Makurdi, Gwer-West, Gboko, Guma, Gwer East, and Tarka Local Government Areas. Central Zones: Comprise of Ado, Obi, Agatu, Apa, Ogbadibo, Ohimini, Okpokwu, Oju and Otukpo Local Government Areas.
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