Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, on Wednesday, flagged off the sale of 9000 metric tonnes of fertiliser to farmers for the 2025 cropping season.

Mr Alia performed the exercise at the Benue Fertiliser and Chemicals Company Factory, Industrial Layout, Naka Road, Makurdi.

The governor said the 600 truckloads of the fertilisers cost N16.8 billion, but the state government would subsidise 50 per cent of the sum.

He stated that the remaining 50 per cent would be paid by farmers, at the cost of N22,500 per bag.

Mr Alia explained that the delay in the sale and distribution of the fertiliser and other farm inputs was due to the sharp practices by some contractors in 2024.

The governor assured genuine contractors that the ₦5 billion owed them would be fully settled by the end of October.

“Under the 2025 intervention, government has procured 9,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers (600 truckloads) – including NPK, urea, and SSP – valued at ₦16.8 billion.

“Out of this amount, the state is paying ₦8.1 billion as subsidy, making fertilisers available to farmers at ₦22,500 per bag.

“This demonstrates our administration’s determination to make agriculture the bedrock of wealth creation in Benue.

“To prevent past abuses, we have adopted a cashless payment system, with all transactions to be carried out through POS terminals at accredited centres.

“Farmers’ payments will go directly to suppliers, while the state promptly covers its subsidy obligations after due reconciliation.

“Cooperatives will be required to submit detailed beneficiary lists, and divisional agricultural officers will no longer handle payments but instead supervise compliance,” he said.

Mr Alia announced that going forward, the wet season sales and distribution of fertiliser would be done between April and June, while that of the dry season farming would be in November and January every year.

The governor stated that from December 2025, no raw oranges will leave Benue, as the new fruit processing factory will enable value addition and generate jobs.

He announced a donation of 300 bags of fertiliser to widows at the flag-off ceremony.

In his remarks, commissioner for agriculture and food security, Benjamin Ashaver, urged farmers to take advantage of the wet and dry season farming to guarantee food sufficiency.

Mr Ashaver urged farmers to use the fertilisers and seeds judiciously, avoid black-market sales, and adopt modern practices to maximise yields.

The commissioner assured farmers that payments to 2024 suppliers were being processed and would soon be concluded.

The chief executive officer of Star Fertiliser and Chemicals Company, ulius Ator, who is the contractor, advised farmers to be wary of where to buy the fertiliser to avoid the substandard products.

The traditional ruler of Makurdi, Moses Anagende, appreciated the governor for subsidising the price of the commodity to make it affordable for average farmers.

 (NAN)