…as Bensono begins production

By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC, has announced the commencement of full production at the Bensono Fruits Juice Processing Factory in Makurdi, a development expected to boost farmers’ income and position the state in Nigeria’s multi-billion Naira juice concentrate market.

The breakthrough followed a successful final test run conducted at the factory located at the Industrial Layout, Makurdi, in partnership with SONO Group.

Speaking during the exercise, the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, said the project would help Nigeria cut down massive importation of juice concentrate estimated at about N68billion annually while creating economic opportunities for Benue farmers and youths.

According to him, “Nigeria imports concentrate worth about N68 billion every year. This factory will position Benue State to participate actively in that market while also reducing post-harvest losses suffered by our farmers.”

He explained that the facility would provide a ready market for fruits produced in the state, thereby saving farmers the stress and cost of transporting their produce to cities such as Kaduna, Lagos, Abuja and Kano in search of buyers.

Dr. Asemakaha described the successful test run as a major milestone for both BIPC and Benue State, noting that the project was initiated under the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.

He disclosed that experts from Brazil and Italy were brought in by SONO Group to carry out the final testing of the machines and expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

“The successful test run marks the beginning of full-scale operations at the concentrate factory. We are confident that the facility is ready for production,” he said.

The BIPC Group Managing Director further revealed that the company planned to maximize the factory’s value chain by converting waste generated from production into organic fertilizer.

He added that the factory would produce juice and concentrate for both local consumption and export markets.

On sustainability, Dr. Asemakaha said SONO Group had been contracted to manage the factory for 35 years to enable technology transfer and skills acquisition for Benue youths.

He said, “The arrangement is designed to ensure that our youths learn modern production techniques from the Brazilian partners.”

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of SONO Brazil, Luiz Arena, said the company was ready to commence production after the successful test run.

Arena, however, noted that a few technical limitations identified during the exercise would be addressed before full operations begin.

He described Benue oranges as “among the best in the world,” adding that the juice and concentrate from the factory rank among the finest globally.

The factory’s Maintenance Manager, Engr. Henry Boager, said the facility was fully prepared for operations.

According to him, the plant was designed to process several fruits including oranges, mangoes, pineapples, watermelons and apples into juice and concentrate for industrial and domestic use.