Lawmakers push plan to save up to 50% of wasted produce and boost farmers’ income.
A bill to establish the Benue State Post-Harvest Management and Export Agency (BESMEA) has passed second reading at the State Assembly in Makurdi, signaling a major push to tackle farm losses and improve exports.
Leading the debate, McClinton Manger said the move is critical to repositioning agriculture in Nigeria’s “Food Basket” state, where 30–50% of produce is lost due to poor storage and weak market access.
The proposed agency will introduce modern storage systems, cold chains, and silos, while promoting value addition through processing farm produce into items like flour, juice, and concentrates. It will also connect farmers directly to buyers, cutting out exploitative middlemen.
Lawmakers say the initiative could boost farmers’ income by at least 40%, create jobs, and attract private investment into agro-processing.
Supporting the bill, Majority Leader Thomas Dugeri said it aligns with ongoing efforts to reduce post-harvest losses, while Peter Uche called for stronger focus on training and capacity building.
Speaker Alfred Emberga has now referred the bill to the Agriculture Committee for further review.
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