BENUE TO BEGIN PRODUCTION OF BEER, JUICE FROM LOCAL CROPS IN AUGUST. (PHOTO).

 BENUE TO BEGIN PRODUCTION OF BEER, JUICE FROM LOCAL CROPS IN AUGUST

The Benue state government says it will commence large-scale production of juice and beer using locally sourced crops in August 2025.

Raymond Asemakaha, managing director and chief executive officer of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), detailed the plan on Tuesday during an inspection tour of infrastructure projects in Zone B.

A juice processing factory, owned by the Benue state government, has been comatose since 2015.

Asemakaha said the initiative is part of the state’s push for agro-industrialisation in a bid to strengthen the local economy while creating jobs.

He said several of the company’s ventures are nearing completion, including a juice factory set to begin operations in 90 days and a beer factory which is 90 percent complete.

“We are trying as much as possible to introduce businesses that will help drive the economy, including government participation,” he said.

“Local people will farm this cassava, they will farm this rice, and they will bring it here.

“We just visited the juice factory, and it is also going to start production in the next 90 days. We are tired of people coming to buy our oranges. We have the best oranges in the world today.”

He said beer production would rely on rice and cassava grown by farmers across the state, while the juice plant would process oranges currently being informally exported to neighbouring countries.

“We already intend to give farmers seedlings to produce our raw materials and by so doing encourage backward integration. After which we off-take the products from the farmers,” he said.

He urged Benue people to plant more sorghum and cassava to create a supply chain for the raw materials used in beer production in order to boost the state’s economy.

“This brewery, which is expected to be completed soon, will provide direct jobs for hundreds of youths; have a backward integration for thousands of Benue farmers, and contribute to the growth of the economy in line with the vision of His Excellency, Hyacinth Iormem Alia,” Asemakaha said.