Benue State has long been known as the food basket of Nigeria, but this enviable position is increasingly under threat. Climate change, farmer-herder conflicts, and the continued reliance on traditional farming methods are all contributing to declining agricultural productivity. If the state is to maintain and strengthen its agricultural leadership, a deliberate and comprehensive modernisation effort is urgently needed.

The state government must prioritise investment in irrigation infrastructure, mechanised farming equipment, and agricultural research. The current rain-dependent farming system makes agriculture vulnerable to climate variability, while the predominance of manual labour limits the scale at which farming can be practised. Countries and regions that have achieved agricultural transformation did so through deliberate investment in these areas.

Furthermore, the value chain must be developed to ensure that farmers benefit from the full value of their produce. This means investing in storage facilities, processing plants, and transportation networks that connect farms to markets. The private sector must be incentivised to participate in this transformation through favourable policies and public-private partnership frameworks.