The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) says it has concluded arrangements for the kick-off of a 50,000-hectare agro-mechanisation project in an Enugu community to tackle insecurity, unemployment and food insecurity.
The SEDC 50,000-hectare agro-mechanisation programme is to be established in each of the 15 senatorial zones of the five South-East states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra and Imo.
A statement issued by the media aide to the Governor of Enugu State, Chief Uche Anichukwu, on Wednesday in Enugu said the pilot scheme would commence in the state on Sept. 22.
Anichukwu quoted the Managing Director of SEDC, Mr Mark Okoye, as disclosing the information during a community engagement at the pilot project site in Nomeh Unateze community in Nkanu East Local Government Area on Tuesday.
Okoye said that following its establishment in 2024, the SEDC had used the first year to conduct extensive studies and design a blueprint that cuts across different areas of the South-East economy.
He said the agro-mechanisation projects remained a major part of the commission’s blueprint, explaining that they would address 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,” he said.
Okoye said the SEDC was committed to developing up to 50,000 hectares of land for mechanised farming across the zone.
“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 contractors can start mobilising 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 into standard farms,” he said.
Okoye said Gov. Peter Mbah would flag off the project on Tuesday, adding that the SEDC team had come to assess the area, meet with the community and ensure that all the plans were in place.
“The second reason why we put this investment here is that at least N4 billion or N5 billion of added investment will come in,” he said.
Okoye commended President Bola Tinubu for addressing the long-standing yearning of the South-East for a commission to mobilise resources and coordinate development in the zone.
He urged the people to reciprocate the numerous gestures by supporting Tinubu to continue the development efforts beyond 2027.
He further revealed that the commission would soon roll out an investment agency to help mobilise local and diaspora investments for the zone’s speedy development.
A community leader in the area, Chief Uche Anichukwu, described the agro-mechanisation project as one of the blessings of the APC, Tinubu and Mbah administrations to Enugu State in general and Nomeh Unateze in particular.
Anichukwu, who is also media aide to the Governor of Enugu State, said the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara road, with a spur to Oduma, had created ready and multiple access routes to markets for the proposed agricultural project.
Chairman of the Nomeh Unateze Town Union Caretaker Committee, Dr Chukwudi Anyianuka, reiterated the community’s support for the project.
He commended Tinubu and Mbah for siting the project in their community.
“We are 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.
“SEDC has taken a methodical approach to regional development. Rather than the pitfall of throwing money at development challenges, it undertook a study of the region and came up with a master plan, which includes this initiative, to revive the agric sector,” Anyianuka added.
