Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has launched a new round of free fertilizer and agro-inputs distribution, aiming to benefit over 60,000 farmers across the state. The initiative is part of the governor’s efforts to enhance food security, eradicate poverty, and promote rural prosperity.
At the launch event, attended by thousands of farmers and stakeholders, Governor Mbah announced that his administration had distributed 12,000 bags of fertilizer and other inputs to farmers last year, resulting in bumper harvests and reduced food prices. This year, the state will distribute over 40,000 bags of free fertilizers and other agro-inputs directly to registered farmers.
The governor also revealed plans to establish 200-hectare Farm Estates in each of the 260 political wards in the state, complete with irrigation systems, warehouses, and power supply. Additionally, 102 tractors have been delivered, with 98 more on the way, and 800 more to be assembled at a tractor plant nearing completion in the state capital. This brings the total number of functional tractors in the state to over 200, a significant increase from fewer than five just two years ago.
The Enugu State Government is also upgrading the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, into a University of Agriculture to train the next generation of agricultural scientists and entrepreneurs. Furthermore, the state is establishing Agro-Industrial Processing Zones and Agricultural Transformation Centres across the three senatorial zones.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Patrick Uburu, praised the governor for inspiring an agricultural revolution in the state, highlighting the revitalization of long-abandoned assets such as the Enugu United Palm Products and the Adarice Irrigation Scheme. The governor’s approval of crop insurance premiums to protect farmers against climate shocks and pests was also commended.
The Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Enugu chapter, Romanus Eze, lauded the governor for fulfilling his promises to farmers, noting that the tractor assembly plant and the new seed laboratory are transforming agriculture into a real business. The distribution of inputs in every ward reflects the governor’s commitment to inclusive governance, according to the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Ibenaku Onoh.
The ceremony ended with the symbolic distribution of fertilizers to farmer cooperatives from the 17 local government areas, marking a significant step towards food security and sustainable rural development in Enugu State.