Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has announced the revival of the Benue Marketing Board and the subsidised sale of fertiliser as part of a comprehensive strategy to boost agricultural productivity and protect farmers from exploitation.
The Governor made the announcement while launching the 2026 Fertilizer and Other Farm Inputs Sales and Distribution Exercise in Makurdi. Under the scheme, the state government will subsidise fertiliser by 51%, enabling farmers to purchase each bag at ₦28,000.
Governor Alia described agriculture as the most reliable pathway to food security, economic empowerment, and sustainable development in Benue State. He emphasised that the revived Marketing Board will address challenges such as unfair pricing, exploitation by middlemen, and limited market access by creating a more organised system for commodity aggregation, market access, and price stabilisation.
The intervention is expected to ensure farmers receive better value for their produce while strengthening the state’s position as Nigeria’s food basket. The 2026 exercise has been expanded to include not only NPK and Urea fertilisers but also improved seedlings, herbicides, and other essential inputs.
The Governor charged officials involved in the distribution to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness, warning against diversion or favouritism. He reiterated that the farmer remains at the centre of his administration’s agricultural policy.
