South East commission unveils 200-hectare farm project in Enugu - Punch Newspapers

South-East Development Commission. Photo: SEDC

The South East Development Commission has commenced work on a 200-hectare integrated agricultural project in Nomeh Unataeze, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, with the facility projected to generate more than 1,000 direct jobs when fully operational. The project, being developed under the Commission’s South East Agro-Development Programme, is designed to combine large-scale agricultural production with mechanisation, processing, skills development and market access. SEDC said the initiative is intended not only to boost food production but also to demonstrate an agricultural model that can be adapted and replicated across the five South East states. The pilot project is being implemented in partnership with the Enugu State Government and will incorporate dairy farming, poultry, fisheries, greenhouse cultivation, fodder production, agro-processing, renewable energy, mechanisation and practical agricultural training. The flag-off ceremony, which was held on Wednesday, was attended by Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, represented by his deputy, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai; Minister of Regional Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh; Chairman of SEDC, Dr Emeka Wogu; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of SEDC, Mr Mark Okoye; traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders. Ossai described the project as evidence of the benefits that could arise from cooperation among government institutions, particularly at a time when food security, job creation and economic diversification remain major development priorities. “The development of this agricultural facility in Nomeh demonstrates what is possible when government institutions work together around a clear development objective. Enugu State is committed to creating the conditions for productive investment, and we are pleased to partner with SEDC on a project that will not only produce food, but also create jobs, develop skills, support farmers and strengthen the agricultural value chain. We believe this project can become an important part of the economic development of Nkanu East, Enugu State and the entire South East region within the context of Nigeria.” Unlike conventional agricultural projects built around a single commodity, the Nomeh facility is structured as an integrated production system in which the various components are expected to complement one another. The project includes provision for a 200-head dairy herd, poultry production of up to 20,000 birds per cycle, fisheries infrastructure, fodder cultivation, silage production, processing and demonstration facilities. The integrated approach is expected to allow the different enterprises to share infrastructure and services while reducing waste. Fodder produced on the farm will support livestock production, while animal manure and poultry litter could be utilised for energy generation and soil improvement. Surplus fodder will also be converted into silage for use within the facility and for supply to participating farmers. The project will equally provide shared facilities for feed production, water supply, farm machinery and processing, creating an agricultural ecosystem intended to link production with value addition and markets.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on Google According to Okoye, the initiative was conceived to demonstrate how agriculture could be transformed from largely fragmented production into a coordinated economic activity driven by technology, mechanisation, skills and market linkages. “The South East Agro-Development Programme is about building productive capacity of the region. We want to demonstrate what agriculture can look like when land, technology, mechanisation, production, processing, training and markets are brought together in one system.” He said the ultimate measure of the project’s success would be its ability to stimulate economic activity beyond the physical boundaries of the 200-hectare farm. “The real impact is what happens around the farm and beyond the farm. It is the young person who acquires a practical skill here and starts a farm elsewhere, the farmer who supplies maize or soya to the feed mill, the dairy farmer who gets technical support and access to a reliable market, and the smallholder farmer who is able to increase production because the ecosystem around them has improved.” A training and out-grower programme is expected to extend the benefits of the project to surrounding communities. The training centre will accommodate between 100 and 120 trainees at a time, with practical instruction covering dairy husbandry, fodder and silage production, poultry, fisheries and agricultural mechanisation. Under the initial out-grower arrangement, about 300 households within a 10-kilometre radius of the facility are expected to participate, with the number projected to increase as the farm expands its production capacity. Participating farmers are expected to receive access to agricultural inputs, technical support and mechanisation services, while the farm will provide aggregation and market opportunities. Fodder growers, for instance, are expected to receive planting materials, agronomic assistance, mechanisation and harvesting support. Dairy farmers will also have access to technical assistance, improved breeding services, feed and silage. Similar arrangements are planned for poultry and fish producers within the surrounding communities. VIDEO: Boy swept away by flood in Enugu rescued after 24 hours BATN foundation empowers 200 Jigawa women with poultry birds, feed, medication Enugu man allegedly kills girlfriend over HIV infection argument SEDC estimates that the facility will support more than 1,000 direct jobs at full maturity, apart from additional employment expected from seasonal agricultural activities, processing and the expanding network of participating farmers. The project comes as governments at the federal and sub-national levels continue to focus on increasing domestic food production, reducing dependence on imports, improving agricultural productivity and creating employment through value addition. Representing the Federal Government at the ceremony, Momoh said the project reflected the administration’s emphasis on productive and inclusive regional development. “Today is significant because it represents something bigger than the commencement of an agricultural project. It represents the kind of development the Federal Government is seeking to promote across Nigeria: development that is productive, inclusive, regionally balanced and capable of creating opportunities for our people.” He said addressing food insecurity required a broader approach than simply expanding cultivated land, stressing the need for efficient production, processing, market access and reduction of post-harvest losses. “The objective is not simply to produce more food. We must build an agricultural system that is productive, resilient and capable of creating value across the entire chain. We must produce. We must process. We must create markets. We must reduce post-harvest losses. We must improve productivity and incomes. And we must create opportunities for young Nigerians to participate meaningfully in modern agriculture.” The agricultural programme forms part of SEDC’s broader mandate to drive economic development and regional transformation across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states. The Commission said one of its objectives was to strengthen the productive capacity of the region by connecting farmers to modern technology, mechanisation, inputs, processing facilities, markets and investment opportunities rather than relying solely on fragmented smallholder production. Wogu said collaboration with state governments, communities, private investors and development partners would be central to the Commission’s approach to regional development. “Regional development requires partnership. The Commission cannot and should not work in isolation from the state governments, communities, the private sector and development partners. Our responsibility is to create platforms that connect these stakeholders around opportunities that can generate sustainable economic value for the people of the South East.” The Nomeh facility is expected to serve as a test case for similar agricultural and agro-mechanisation projects that SEDC plans to develop across the region. Okoye said the Commission would use the experience gained from the pilot to refine the model before extending it to other locations. “Nomeh is the starting point. This is a pilot. We want to learn from what we build here, document what works, improve what does not, and replicate the model across the South East in line with our mandate.” For the host community, the project represents an opportunity to expand economic activities and create new avenues for young people and farmers. The President-General of Nomeh Unataeze, Dr. Chukwudi Anyianuka, said the community was prepared to cooperate with the Commission and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the initiative. “We welcome this project because we see it as an investment in the future of Nomeh and our people. Our community understands that a project of this scale requires cooperation, responsibility and a shared commitment to its success. We are ready to work with SEDC, the Enugu State Government and all the partners involved to ensure that the project delivers the opportunities that our young people, farmers and community deserve.” SEDC said the host community would be treated as a key stakeholder in the project’s implementation and long-term sustainability. Beyond the projected output from the 200-hectare facility, the Commission expects the Nomeh project to provide a platform for agricultural skills acquisition, employment, farmer integration and development of stronger value chains. The lessons from the pilot, it said, will inform the design and implementation of similar agricultural interventions across the South East. Abdulrahman Zakariyau Abdulrahman is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with nearly a decade of professional experience covering political parties, elections, religion, civil society organizations, and the Nigeria Governors Forum. He is also a development and strategic communication expert, skilled at analyzing complex issues and delivering impactful narratives. Abdulrahman’s reporting reflects extensive newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a strong commitment to informative and insightful journalism.

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