By Chiangi Avese, Makurdi
The Benue state Governor, Hyacinth Alia has signed a $530 million Memorandum of Understanding for the development of AgroBenue Industrial hub.
He said the MoU is in line with his administration’s commitment to keeping to its vision to position Benue State as a leading agro-industrial hub in Nigeria and West Africa.
Alia explained that the initiative will help to process agricultural products, packaged, and exported with global standards.
He said, “The move is a significant milestone in the journey of Benue State toward sustainable agricultural transformation and economic prosperity”.
Alia told the AGROBENUE team led by Prince Henry Erimodafe and the Isu Remote Sensing and Algorithm Team led by Prof. Badaru Usman, said that Benue State has long been known as the Food Basket of the Nation. However, “Our administration recognizes that the future of agriculture lies not only in production but in value addition, processing, industrialization and market expansion”.
“It is therefore the policy direction of this administration to transform agriculture from subsistence farming into a modern, commercial, and industrial sector that will drive economic growth, create employment, and enhance food security”, Gov. Alia said.
He pointed out that the proposed investment of approximately $530 million in an integrated agro-industrial estate represents a major boost to our development strategy, added that the MoU signing is not merely a ceremonial exercise, but rather, a strategic step in implementing the administration’s agricultural development agenda.
“This project aligns directly with the key pillars of our administration, particularly in economic revitalization, agricultural transformation, youth empowerment, and sustainable development” .
The Governor explained that Agriculture remains the backbone of the Benue economy, and the prosperity of the rural communities depends largely on the productivity and value of what the farmers produce.
“Through this partnership, we are moving beyond traditional farming methods to establish a complete agricultural value chain from production to processing, storage, logistics, and market access. The benefits of this initiative will be far-reaching. The establishment of this agro-industrial estate will generate employment opportunities across multiple sectors, including agriculture, processing, logistics, warehousing, transportation, equipment maintenance, and administration.
He maintained that thousands of our youths will gain meaningful employment, while many local businesses will benefit from expanded supply chains and service opportunities.
“Our farmers produce yam, cassava, grains, soybeans, rice, and several other crops in large quantities. Yet much of this product leaves our state without value addition. With modern processing facilities, these crops will be transformed into higher-value products such as starch, flour, and other industrial inputs. This will significantly increase farmers’ incomes while strengthening the local economy”.
The Governor noted that “one of the major challenges facing agricultural systems in Nigeria is the high level of post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage and processing infrastructure. By investing in modern storage facilities, cold chains, and logistics systems, we will reduce wastage, stabilize food supply, and improve affordability for our people”.
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