Enugu State is implementing a transformative approach to agriculture by moving farmers from scattered small-scale operations to clustered farm estates, aimed at increasing productivity, creating jobs, and enhancing food security across the state. In an exclusive interview, Mike Ogbuekwe, Special Assistant to Governor Peter Mbah on Agriculture, outlined the government’s policies and initiatives designed to modernize farming, support agripreneurs, and develop sustainable value chains.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The government’s policy seeks to make agriculture a major contributor to Enugu State’s GDP while upgrading the sector to a mechanized and organized system. Central to this is the Farm Estate Programme, which covers 52,000 hectares of virgin land, divided into one-hectare plots for local farmers. Each estate is equipped with security fencing, central warehouses, and mechanized farming support, including over 200 tractors provided by the government in partnership with Nortra Tractors, which is setting up a local assembly plant.
The clustered farming model enables farmers to share resources, access mechanization, form cooperatives, and participate in in-grower and out-grower schemes. Large-scale buyers, such as Nigerian Breweries, can procure raw materials like sorghum directly from these estates, ensuring steady market linkages and revenue for farmers.
The government also supports large-scale commercial farming through the Enugu State Land Bank, providing land for investors to farm without distractions. At the same time, smallholder farmers benefit from technical guidance by agronomists, access to improved seeds, agrochemicals, and subsidized inputs to maximize profitability.
To prevent post-harvest losses and expand market access, the Enugu State Marketing Company links farmers to buyers, offers programs like the Workers Food Scheme, and has developed branded products such as Enugu Garri, Enugu Palm Oil, Enugu Cashew, Enugu Rice, Enugu Okro, and Enugu Vegetable Oil, ready for domestic and export markets. An Integrated Livestock Centre is also under development to revolutionize meat and dairy production in the state.
The initiative combines mechanization, market access, cooperative farming, and value-chain development, ensuring that agriculture drives economic growth, creates employment, reduces insecurity, and attracts investment. According to Ogbuekwe, this holistic strategy marks a new era for Enugu State agriculture, positioning the state as a leading hub for sustainable farming in Nigeria.