The Enugu State Government has revealed plans to establish 260 Smart Farm Estates across the state, a move aimed at transforming the agricultural sector and encouraging residents to actively participate in farming activities.
This announcement was made by the state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, Mr. Patrick Ubru, on Monday during an inspection visit to the pilot site of the Smart Farm Estate in Akpawfu, located in Nkanu East Local Government Area. Ubru, who led the inspection on behalf of Governor Peter Mbah, highlighted the importance of the project.
As part of the 2025 budget, the state government has allocated N2 billion for the development of these Smart Farm Estates, which will span all 260 political wards across Enugu State’s 17 local government areas. The initiative, tagged “One Ward, One Smart Farm Estate,” is part of Governor Peter Mbah’s effort to revolutionize grassroots agriculture in the region.
Ubru emphasized the need for town hall meetings at the council level to educate farmers about the opportunities and benefits the Smart Farm Estates would offer.
He underscored the importance of engaging with the farming communities swiftly to ensure they could maximize the potential of this initiative.
The Commissioner also called on individuals, cooperatives, corporate bodies, and agricultural agencies like IFAD-VCDP and FADAMA to collaborate and contribute to the success of the program.
He praised Governor Peter Mbah’s commitment to ensuring that the initiative will have lasting and meaningful impacts on the people of the state.
Describing the “One Ward, One Smart Farm Estate” program as a transformative venture, Ubru assured that the estates would cover large expanses of land and incorporate a wide range of agricultural activities.
These include the cultivation of both staple and high-value crops such as cocoa, cassava, sorghum, vegetables, exotic peppers, and various spices.
The state government is working closely with local councils to ensure effective implementation of the project, with a particular emphasis on involving youth and other residents.
The initiative aims to tackle critical issues such as youth unemployment, hunger, food insecurity, and the gap in modern agricultural knowledge.
To further empower farmers, workshops will be organized at the local level to provide essential skills and training.
Expressing satisfaction with the progress so far, Ubru noted that the enthusiasm demonstrated by the project’s consultant and team aligns with the vision of Governor Peter Mbah to boost the state’s economy, especially through agriculture and agro-industrialization.
He also commended the robust security measures in place to safeguard the estates and ensure the success of the initiative.
Mr. Mike Ogbuekwe, Senior Personal Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, also spoke on the initiative, explaining that it would help diversify the state’s economy.
He emphasized the potential for increasing Enugu State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through agricultural activities.
According to Ogbuekwe, the Smart Farm Estates will focus on producing crops that are in demand locally, as well as specialized agricultural products for export, such as sorghum and Ose Nsukka, the unique and aromatic yellow pepper from the Nsukka region.
He further revealed that Nigeria Breweries has shown interest in partnering with the state government to source sorghum, which is a key raw material for the company’s production process.
Mr. Victor Ngwu, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, pointed out the need for the ministry’s staff with expertise in communication and documentation to be actively involved. This will ensure the collection of accurate data and statistics, which are crucial for the smooth execution of the Smart Farm Estates initiative.
Consultant to the pilot project, Mr. Friday Nnaji, provided more details about the pilot phase, which covers 200 hectares of farmland.
Nnaji explained that this portion of land would be distributed among 200 local farmers, with each farmer assigned to cultivate a specific crop.
The pilot farm estate will feature two entrance points and be equipped with uninterrupted electricity and water supply, including provisions for irrigation.
Security infrastructure is also being strengthened to ensure the safety of the estate, and the construction of a central warehouse for farmers is progressing, having reached the lintel level.
