Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang has revealed that his administration has committed over N3.6 billion to the procurement of fertilisers and other essential farming inputs to strengthen food production and agricultural activities in the state.
In a New Year State Broadcast delivered in Jos on Wednesday, the governor highlighted his administration’s efforts to develop the state’s agricultural sector.
“Our administration has made an investment exceeding N3.6 billion in the purchase and distribution of fertilisers and other farming essentials to enhance food production. A database of over 300,000 farmers has been collected and we have designed an online input distribution system to streamline resource allocation, which will be launched soon,” he stated.
He further noted that the state has made considerable progress toward establishing Plateau as a leading player in agriculture nationwide.
“We have reached advanced discussions with the African Development Bank (ADB) to onboard Plateau as a participating state in the development of the Special Agro Processing Zone.
“BARC Farms has been partially reactivated, with a private investor establishing feedlots; successful trials for wheat, barley, and grasses such as Napier and Brachiaria were conducted, setting the stage for mass production in 2025.”
The governor further announced that work on the redesign and construction of the Kuru Livestock Centre will commence in January.
He added that through the Agricultural Services and Training Centres (ASTC), more than 6,000 hectares of farmland have been cultivated, facilitating the resettlement of displaced communities and helping them reclaim their livelihoods.
In a bid to boost the state’s agricultural exports, the government has finalized plans to upgrade the Yakubu Gowon Airport into a cargo hub, which will ease the exportation of perishable crops and vegetables produced in the region.
According to Mutfwang, the administration has also established the Plateau Commodity Marketing Company (PLACOM) to tackle challenges in commodity trading, warehousing, and market information systems.
This initiative is designed to eliminate the exploitative practices of middlemen, ensuring that farmers receive fair value for their produce.
Governor Mutfwang also highlighted the government’s efforts to create a conducive economic environment, which has attracted both local and international investors. Agreements have been signed for the revitalization of Hill Station Hotel and Plateau Hotel, with the first rooms expected to be completed by December.