BIPC to transform Benue agriculture with outgrowers scheme, exchange

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) has announced plans to launch an ambitious outgrowers scheme for sorghum, rice, and orange farmers across Benue State, aimed at boosting local production, increasing value addition, and improving farmers’ incomes.

The disclosure was made by the company’s Group Managing Director, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, following a strategic consultative meeting with farmer groups, cooperative societies, and traders in Makurdi.

Asemakaha decried the long-standing trend of farmers selling produce at the farm gate, warning that the practice has deprived the state of significant economic benefits.

“To tell ourselves the truth, for how long are we going to grow food while others grow their income and revenue to their states and respective businesses? It is high time we put an end to this,” he said.

As part of the initiative, BIPC would roll out a citrus aggregation programme alongside an orange outgrowers scheme, with plans to begin production of orange-based products soon. The company is also preparing to receive up to 100 truckloads of oranges from local farmers and has urged cooperatives to mobilize participation.

On sorghum production, Asemakaha revealed that farmers would receive 20 bags of sorghum seedlings under the scheme, with a guaranteed offtake arrangement at harvest to supply the company’s brewery and malt operations.

“The 20 bags will go a long way in providing seedlings for the farmers, and by harvest, we will offtake the produce for our brewery, which will also produce our malt,” he added.

He emphasized that the initiative would help retain economic value within Benue state, noting that BIPC had previously spent about N500 million sourcing sorghum from Zaria.

In a further move to strengthen the agricultural value chain, the company also announced plans to establish the Benue Commodity Exchange, which would collaborate with the Nigerian Commodity Exchange to ensure fair pricing and structured markets for farmers.

Earlier, BIPC’s Chief Risk Officer, Andrew Simon, said the meeting was convened to promote transparency and foster collaboration among stakeholders in the agricultural sector.

Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Benue State, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Secretary, Prof. Godwin Timin, along with Dr. Teryima Iorlamen of IITA/JOSTUM SSS and Tarnongu Vitalis, Managing Director of Teryima Nigeria Limited, expressed readiness to key into the initiative. They pledged to mobilise farmers across the state to participate fully in the scheme.

Also speaking, the Nigerian Commodity Exchange State Focal Person, Clement Oche, assured stakeholders of the exchange’s commitment to ensuring that Benue farmers receive fair value for their produce and support to produce.