Benue State, often referred to as the food basket of the nation, holds immense untapped potential in the area of poultry farming.
In a compelling proposal written by Comrade Iorlaha Loho Emmanuel MP, a public affairs advocate and concerned citizen from Agera-Mbachambe, a call is being made for the government and private stakeholders to harness this opportunity to drive economic transformation, reduce youth unemployment, and reverse rural-urban migration.
According to Emmanuel, the state is rich in both human and natural resources but has failed to translate its advantages into productivity.
He notes that Joseph Saawuan Tarka University in Makurdi produces approximately 150 to 200 graduates annually in poultry and animal science.
However, due to the lack of local job opportunities, many of these graduates are forced to migrate to other regions, resulting in a significant brain drain and loss of potential capital and innovation within the state.
He emphasizes that Benue, with a population exceeding five million people, has a growing internal demand for affordable animal protein. Chicken and eggs remain the most accessible protein options for the average Nigerian household.
Urban centres such as Makurdi, Gboko, Otukpo, and Katsina-Ala are experiencing rapid population growth and increasing food demand, creating a strong local market for poultry products.
Emmanuel believes that Benue can also serve nearby regional markets such as Nasarawa, Abuja, and Jos, while exploring export potential to neighbouring countries including Cameroon, Niger, and Benin Republic through bilateral trade.
One of the core strengths of Benue, he explains, lies in its fertile land and tropical climate, which support the cultivation of maize and soybeans—two essential components in poultry feed.
With vast arable lands in areas like Gwer, Logo, Konshisha, and Guma, and being among Nigeria’s top producers of these crops, Benue can produce poultry feed locally at a significantly reduced cost, boosting profitability for large-scale poultry farms.
Emmanuel proposes that the establishment of such a farm would not only create thousands of direct and indirect jobs but also stimulate growth in the entire value chain.
From feed production and transportation to veterinary services, farm management, logistics, and poultry processing, many sectors would benefit. This, he says, would absorb both skilled professionals and fresh graduates, reducing unemployment and revitalizing the rural economy.
A key component of the proposal is the potential partnership between the poultry farm and Joseph Saawuan Tarka University.
Emmanuel envisions a model where students from departments such as Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Agricultural Engineering gain hands-on training and real industry experience as part of their academic requirements.
This collaboration would create a practical learning environment and strengthen the quality of graduates.
In addition, experienced lecturers and university graduates could serve as consultants and technical advisors on critical areas such as poultry nutrition, biosecurity, breed selection, and disease management.
The farm could also become a training ground for extension agents who would go on to educate rural farmers, thereby strengthening the state’s poultry supply chain.
Comrade Emmanuel further suggests that such a farm could act as a hub for agripreneurship. It would inspire graduates to venture into small and medium-scale poultry enterprises.
It would also encourage innovation and research, particularly in areas like animal feed development, vaccine testing, disease control strategies, and environmentally sustainable poultry housing systems.
Lecturers and postgraduate students would benefit immensely from the availability of field research data, research grants, and real-world problem-solving opportunities.
He asserts that Benue State has the financial strength and the technical expertise required to bring this vision to life, but what remains missing is political will.
He warns that if proactive steps are not taken now, the state’s ongoing economic leakages could continue to overshadow the limited gains currently being made.
Comrade Iorlaha Loho Emmanuel concludes his statement with a strong message to the Benue intellectual and political elite.
He urges the state’s think-tank to seize the moment and act decisively in developing a large-scale poultry industry that would drive inclusive economic growth, retain talent, and restore Benue’s status as a truly productive state.
