First Agro-Mechanisation Project Launching in Enugu

The first of 15 agro-mechanisation projects by the South East Development Commission (SEDC) is set to launch on Tuesday.

Mark Okoye, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, shared this during a visit to the Nomeh Unateze community in Nkanu East LGA of Enugu State.

Okoye explained that after the SEDC was established in 2024, the first year focused on studying the economy and creating a plan for the South East region.

He said the agro-mechanisation projects are a key part of this plan. They aim to tackle issues like insecurity, unemployment, and food security.

"So, what we are here for is one of our flagship initiatives, which is called the South East Agro Mechanisation Programme or the South East Agro Development Programme, where we are committing to develop up to 50,000 hectares of land and that will be used for mechanised farming across the region.

"Essentially we are here for a pre-assessment, pre-flag-off visit to see the area, understand the level of work that needs to be done and ensure that the contractors can start mobilising very quickly so that once we hit the site we start running.

"Because a big part of what we are looking at is how to address food insecurity and unemployment, ensuring that we are producing what we put on the table. We are starting with pilot programmes where we are taking 200 to 300 hectares of farmland across 15 senatorial zones and developing them to standard farms where you not only have cassava, maize, some of our staple crops, but also some cash crops. In some areas, there will be the centres for learning and centres for productivity.

"We will be doing a flag-off and the governor has agreed for next week. So, we just came to assess the area, meet with the community, once again, ensuring that all the plans are in place.

"And the second we put this investment here, at least N4bn or N5 billion of added investment will come in," he stated.

Okoye praised President Bola Tinubu for responding to the South East's long-standing need for a commission to gather resources and guide development. He urged the people to support the President in continuing these efforts after 2027.

He also mentioned that the SEDC plans to set up an investment agency soon. This agency will help attract local and diaspora investments for faster development in the region.

Uche Anichukwu, media aide to the Governor of Enugu State and a community leader, said the agro-mechanisation project is a blessing from the All Progressives Congress, President Tinubu, and Governor Mbah for Enugu and Nomeh Unateze. He pointed out the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara road with a spur to Oduma, which he said has opened up better access to markets for the agricultural project.

Dr Chukwudi Anyianuka, Chairman of Nomeh Unateze Town Union Caretaker Committee, and other community leaders expressed their support for the project. They thanked President Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah for choosing their community for the project.

"We are very, very happy. We cannot wait to see it actualised and we promise that we are going to provide everything that is necessary to make sure that this is established to make sure that it.

"The Commission has taken a methodical approach to regional development. Rather than just throwing money at development challenges, it undertook a study of the region and came up with a masterplan, which includes this initiative, to reinvent the South East post-civil war," Anyianuka added.