Plateau Govt Assesses BARC Farms to Boost Youth Engagement in Agriculture

The Plateau State Government has taken a significant step toward revitalizing agriculture and creating employment opportunities for young people with an assessment tour of the Pioneer Milling Company (PMC) and BARC Farms in Zalaki, Bassa Local Government Area.

A delegation of government officials, accompanied by security personnel, visited the 4,000-hectare farmland to evaluate the state of infrastructure and assess damages caused by vandalism before the government reclaimed the facility.

The team included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Mobilization and Engagement, Hon. Joshua Pwajok Hitler, the Special Adviser on Local Government Administration, Hon. Jonathan Dabo, and other senior officials from relevant state agencies.

During the inspection, the delegation observed significant deterioration of structures, including the administrative section, loading bay, and processing areas.

Despite this, officials reaffirmed their commitment to restoring the facility, noting that while 600 hectares have already been allocated to a Plateau-based investor, the remaining 3,400 hectares will be developed for large-scale agricultural production.

Leading the advocacy for youth participation in the project, Mr. Yari Kumchi assured that necessary resources and support systems would be put in place to make farming both profitable and sustainable.

“We have secured assurances that whatever we plant will have ready buyers. Some of them will even be here with us on the farm,” he said.

He also emphasized the government’s commitment to providing essential farming tools and inputs.

“We will have enough tractors stationed here, not just for occasional use. Fertilizers and other inputs will be readily available. The aim is to make agriculture viable enough that young people see it as an attractive opportunity,” he added.

Kumchi further explained that this initiative is structured to support those willing to commit to full-time farming, with lessons drawn from successful agricultural models in other states.

“The only requirement is determination. We will live on the farm, operate the machinery ourselves, and manage production directly. Whatever we harvest will be sold, and the proceeds will be shared among those who worked, after deducting input costs,” he explained.

According to him, the government studied similar models in Ibadan and Benin, where the Special Agro-Processing Zone has already been successfully implemented.

“His Excellency took us to Ibadan, where the Special Agro-Processing Zone is already running. Another team went to Benin, which has the best model we want to replicate here. It is working there, and it can work here too,” he said.

In his remarks, Hon. Joshua Pwajok Hitler urged youths to embrace the initiative, highlighting its potential to create jobs and develop future agribusiness leaders.

“This is more than just a farming project; it is an opportunity for young people to acquire knowledge that can be applied in their communities. The government has committed resources to ensure its success,” he said.

“We have tagged this initiative the ‘Plateau Youths in Agriculture Empowerment Project.’ The goal is to ensure that while gaining knowledge here, you also pass it on.

We will be implementing similar projects across various local governments, and you might become the pioneer leaders of agribusiness in your respective areas,” he added.

A technical team of building and construction experts, along with geologists, was also on-site to evaluate the integrity of existing structures and assess water availability for irrigation ahead of the project’s full takeoff.

PMC/BARC Farms, owned by the Plateau State Government, was once a major agricultural hub. However, years of neglect left the facility in disrepair. Officials say efforts are underway to restore its operations, though long-term success will depend on sustained funding, security, and youth participation.

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