Benue is a state in north-central Nigeria, otherwise known as the Food Basket of the Nation. It was created in 1976. The incumbent governor is Fr. Hyacinth Alia.
The state boasts a comparative advantage in agriculture due to its rich arable land, fresh water bodies, and environmental conditions suitable for food production. This is notwithstanding the wide range of mineral deposits found in the state, which are largely untapped. The people are highly skilled, industrious, and resilient.
Nevertheless, agriculture in the state remains predominantly seasonal. So, people still talk about the rainy and dry seasons when it comes to food production. Because agriculture depends largely on rain-fed systems, harvest is usually in the dry season, except for vegetables, some grains, and fruits like mangoes.
Generally, it’s the peak of harvest season in Benue, the Food Basket of the Nation. In this first quarter of the year, cashews will also be ripe for consumption, while mangoes and oranges are available throughout the year.
So, when you hear about sweet Benue yams or oranges, it is not exaggeration. A taste will convince you. And this is the time to get a feel for what is produced in Benue. The taste is distinct, no matter where the produce is taken.
From fruits, vegetables, tubers, roots, grains, beverages, and indeed everything produced from the Benue soil, the taste is not just sweet; it leaves lasting memories and a desire to keep wanting more.
Here is a look at the best of the best Benue (agricultural) produce and where to get them.
1. Fruits. Fruits, especially, oranges and mangoes are grown in large quantities in Benue North East (Konshisha, Vandeijya, Ushongo, Kwa de, Katsina-Ala, Ukum, and Logo) and Benue North West (Gboko, Tarka, Buruku, Guma, Makurdi, Gwer East and Gwer West). Available varieties of oranges include Washington, Ibadan Sweet, Valencia, lemon, and lime.
A bag of oranges from the farm is Two Thousand Five Hundred Naira (N2,500.00) only. It is the peak of oranges, and prices may remain low until May/June, when most may be sold out or have lost juice.
Mango varieties include common mango, Peter, Julie, Broken, Kerosine Mango, Dowsha, Angbira, and the recently introduced Tommy Atkins and Alphonso.
All these are sweet Benue mangoes, relatively cheap now and sure to be cheaper between April and June, the peak of Mango season.
Oil palm fruits, African Wild Mango (Ogbono), and Cashew are abundant in Benue South. African Wild Mango is also found in Benue North East (especially Vandeikya, Konshisha, and Kwande) in large quantities.
Other fruit-bearing plants common to Benue are pawpaw, passion fruit, and Sheer tree.
Next time you’re in Benue, ask to have a taste of these fruits. You may be shown a tree to pluck one. That way, you can eat it fresh from the tree.
Benue is not the Food Basket of the Nation in name; it is so called because no state in Nigeria compares with it in terms of food sources.
