Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to making Nigeria a dominant global force in soybean production.
Governor Alia gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, during the official launch of the National Soybean Production Expansion Policy and Strategy, held at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Describing Benue as a critical player in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain, the governor noted that the state is already setting the pace in soybean cultivation, managing a substantial portion of Nigeria’s 780,000 hectares of farmland dedicated to the crop and contributing significantly to the country’s 758,000 metric tons annual output.
“With our fertile soil and resilient farmers, Benue remains Nigeria’s largest producer of soybeans and a leader in Sub-Saharan Africa,” Alia said.
He highlighted the state’s ambitious projection to double its soybean yield from 202,000 to at least 400,000 metric tons in the next three years. This, he said, will contribute significantly to the national goal of creating over one million jobs and generating an estimated N3.9 trillion in revenue from the crop.
Alia also unveiled strategies by the Benue Agricultural Development Company, including the deployment of extension officers, formation of mechanization clusters in 15 local government areas, and the introduction of climate-smart farming practices to boost productivity.
“We are building an agricultural legacy that will empower thousands of households and secure long-term prosperity for our people,” he stated, while urging the Federal Government, development partners, and private investors to make soybean Nigeria’s golden crop.
In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, acknowledged the economic and nutritional importance of soybeans, and called on state agriculture commissioners to drive the initiative with purpose and collaborate effectively with stakeholders.
The minister praised Governor Alia’s leadership and coordination of agricultural activities in Benue State, noting it as a model for other states.
Goodwill messages were delivered by stakeholders in the agricultural and investment sectors, including the Chairman of the Forum of State Investment Promotion Agencies of Nigeria (FoSIPAN) and Executive Secretary of the Benue Investment Promotion Agency, Kpenkaan Terhemen Johnpaul, who pledged support to attract capital and de-risk subnational agribusiness investments.
The event also featured the unveiling of the National Soybean Production Policy and the presentation of its seven core strategic pillars.
Source: X | Benue State Government Page
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