Enugu, SEDC, Flag Off 200-Hectare Agro Project in Enugu, Targets Regional Food Security

Our Reporter 

The Enugu State Government and the South East Development Commission (SEDC) on Tuesday flagged off a 200-hectare integrated agricultural development project at Nomeh-Unateze in Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state.

The project, which is the pilot phase of the South East Agro Development Programme (SEADP) 2025–2030, is designed to support the development of up to 50,000 hectares of farmland through mechanised agriculture across the five South-East states.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Peter Mbah, represented by his Deputy, Sir Ifeanyi Ossai, said the initiative was aimed at increasing food production, creating jobs, empowering farmers and stimulating agribusiness across the region.

Mbah said the success of the project would be measured by its tangible impact on the people, including agricultural output, employment and the growth of businesses around the value chain.

“Today is not an achievement; today is a day for the beginning. So you can judge us by what you see on this land over the next couple of months—what you see that is produced here, the jobs that we created here, the farmers that we can support, the businesses that we can create,” he said.

The governor described the Nomeh-Unateze project as a testing and demonstration centre whose experience would guide the expansion of the agricultural model to 15 other sites across the South-East.

He assured the SEDC of the state government's continued administrative support, while urging the host community to protect the facility and ensure its sustainability.

Mbah also commended the Federal Government, the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, and the leadership of the SEDC for their commitment to regional development.

The Minister, who also spoke at the event, said the project represented an important step towards strengthening food security and was aligned with the Federal Government's Renewed Hope Agenda.

Momoh commended the collaboration between the SEDC and Enugu State Government, describing the project as an example of translating regional development policies into practical interventions.

He urged the Nomeh-Unateze community to take ownership of the project and protect it against threats to its long-term operation.

The SEDC Board Chairman, Dr. Emeka Wogu, said the programme was designed to transform agriculture in the South-East from subsistence production into an integrated business ecosystem linking production with processing, logistics and markets.

He identified limited access to land, inadequate inputs and financing, poor storage facilities and weak market linkages as some of the challenges constraining agricultural development in the region.

Wogu said the SEADP would deploy mechanisation, agricultural extension services, technology, knowledge transfer and sustainable resource management to address the challenges.

He added that the model being tested at Nomeh-Unateze would be replicated across the three senatorial zones in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states.

The SEDC chairman also assured that funds allocated to the project would be transparently managed, rigorously monitored and tied to measurable performance indicators.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Mark Okoye Jnr., said the flag-off marked a transition from planning to implementation of the regional agricultural programme.

According to him, the 200-hectare facility will feature dairy, poultry, fishery, fodder production, greenhouse farming, processing facilities, farm mechanisation and practical training centres for youths.

He said smallholder farmers from surrounding communities would be integrated into the project's value chain and supported with technical assistance, equipment access and links to off-takers.

Okoye listed the project's key performance indicators to include hectares developed, volume of agricultural output, number of farmers supported, youths trained and micro-enterprises created.

He said extensive consultations had been held with the Nomeh-Unateze community before the project commenced, stressing that community participation would remain central to its sustainability.

The Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, described the SEDC leadership and management as a resourceful team with diverse expertise.

Onyia said the project would not focus merely on increasing agricultural production but on developing the entire value chain.

“Agriculture is one of our growth opportunities and this project will not only boost agriculture but also our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he said.

He described Nomeh as an economic stronghold whose agricultural potential would be further activated through the intervention.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and External Relations, Hon. Uche Anichukwu and stakeholder in the community, and the President of the Nomeh Town Union, Dr. Chukwudi Anyianuka commended the SEDC for making Enugu the pioneer location for the project, saying partnerships of the nature would help translate regional development strategies into economic opportunities.

They appealed to the state government and SEDC officials to convey the community's gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the commission and approving the project.

The community leaders pledged to protect the project, saying residents understood its potential benefits for agriculture, employment and economic development in Nomeh-Unateze and its environs.