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In what has been described as a game-changing moment for Benue State, the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), in partnership with global giants Sono Group and Picama Group Limited, has signed a Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) aimed at transforming the state’s agricultural value chain and drastically reducing post-harvest losses, especially in mango and orange production.
The historic agreement was sealed at a well-attended ceremony held at the Abuja Continental Hotel, signalling the beginning of an ambitious public-private partnership that seeks to reposition Benue, widely known as the Food Basket of the Nation, as a leading agro-industrial hub in Nigeria and beyond.
The partnership focuses on critical areas including large-scale agro-processing, farmer empowerment, aggregation of smallholder farmers into viable cooperatives, reliable off-take and market access, innovative post-harvest solutions, and integration into global supply chains.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, CFA, said the JVA marks a historic turning point for Benue. “Together, we are rewriting the story of agriculture in Benue – from subsistence to industrial growth. This agreement will catalyse massive economic benefits through job creation, farmer prosperity, sustainability and global recognition. We are setting Benue on a trajectory where agriculture becomes the primary engine of prosperity,” he declared.
Co-founder of Sono Group, Mr. Daren Jenkins, called the deal transformational. “This is more than business; it is a pledge to turn Benue’s fruits and economy into prosperity,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman and Chief Executive of Picama Group Ltd, Mr. Frank Runge, reassured farmers that the era of wasted sweat is over. “Our partnership ensures that no farmer’s effort goes to waste. Every harvest will find its market. We are eager to commence full-scale operations,” he affirmed.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by top officials of BIPC including Company Secretary, Barr. Josephat Ioryoosu; Chief Risk Officer, Andrew Simon; and Head of Legal Unit, Barr. Kakwagh Emmanuel, alongside global investment leaders from Sono and Picama Groups.
With its vast arable land and rich production of citrus, mangoes, yam, rice and soybeans, Benue has long battled the paradox of plenty – abundant harvests but crippling post-harvest losses and limited processing capacity. This tripartite partnership is poised to finally break that cycle, bringing industrial-scale processing plants, cold chain infrastructure, export linkages and structured farmer support to the state.
As the partners prepare to roll out operations across the state, there is widespread optimism that Benue’s agricultural story is about to change permanently – from the food basket to the agro-industrial powerhouse of Nigeria.
