By Faridat Salifu
The Benue State Government launched a five-year Strategic Food Security Plan aimed at revitalising agricultural production, improving farmers’ livelihoods and addressing the impact of insecurity on food production across the state.
The strategy was unveiled recently under the Enhancing Food Security and Peacebuilding in Nigeria through Strategic Planning Project (EFSPP) and brought together government officials, farmers, academics, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Benjamin Ashaver, represented by the Governor’s Technical Adviser on Agriculture, Danjuma Adejo, urged ministries, departments and agencies, local government councils, traditional institutions and farming communities to take ownership of the plan to ensure its successful implementation.
He reaffirmed Governor Hyacinth Alia’s commitment to implementing the strategy, including a mid-term review in 2028 and a final evaluation in 2031.
Ashaver said years of attacks on farming communities had displaced thousands of farmers, disrupted planting and harvesting seasons and significantly reduced agricultural output across the state.
He noted that recurring land-use conflicts between herders and farming communities had weakened rural livelihoods and undermined agricultural productivity.
Presenting the Strategic Food Security Plan, Akange Edward said the document provides a framework for stabilising agricultural production, strengthening land governance, rebuilding rural economies and improving logistics and market systems.
According to him, the strategy addresses the structural challenges linking conflict and food insecurity while promoting sustainable agricultural development.
Edward observed that although Benue is widely regarded as Nigeria’s “Food Basket of the Nation” because of its fertile land and abundant water resources, insecurity, displacement, climate pressures and inadequate infrastructure have constrained the state’s agricultural potential.
He said the five-year plan is expected to serve as a roadmap for increasing food production, strengthening the resilience of farming communities and promoting sustainable peace and economic development across the state.
