Emerging Policy issues in the Special Crop Productions Programme of Benue State

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine the characteristics of the SpecialCrop Production Programme of the Benue State Ministry of Agriculture,Makurdi and highlight the emerging policy issues. Primary data werecollected through structured questionnaire from 120 respondents whowere randomly selected. Analysis of data was carried out usingpercentages and mean scores. Results showed that, procurement anddistribution of inputs (improved seeds, fertilizer and herbicides) wereinsufficient and untimely provided. The situation forced farmers to acquiremost of their input from the open market at exorbitant prices. Farmerswere not involved in the planning of the programme and the extensionpersonnel attached to the programme were not sufficient for effectivedelivery of extension services to farmers. The recommendations are thatpolicy should be put in place to ensure early procurement and distributionof inputs at affordable prices, organize farmers into farmers associationsand co-operatives to help pool farm lands, input procurement, and accessto the use of machinery and providing market outlets for disposingfarmers’ outputs. This way a veritable extension policy for crop productionwill be ensured in Nigeria