Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
In order to ensure food security and create employment opportunities for all, the Enugu State Government said it has budgeted the sum of N2 billion in 2025 for farm estates across the 260 wards that make up the state.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Dr. Patrick Ubru, explained that the initiative by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah was to ensure that each ward in every locality in the state, was able to feed itself as well as ensure food sufficiency.
He said residents of the various wards and localities would be taught best agronomy practices and introduced to high yield seedlings and stems as well as land and space management.
”The One Political Ward, One Farm Estate Initiative’’ will be a game-changer for our people, as our agriculture-loving governor is putting everything in place to ensure that our people gets its maximum benefits.
”It will be done in hectares of land, where all types of farming activities such as crop farming, animal husbandry, poultry, horticulture/exotic plant farming and fish farming among others will be practiced.”
Ubru said that the state government would actively collaborate with the local government councils to ensure that the initiative works efficiently.
He also said that the government would engage the people, especially youths, in each locality to take ownership and participate in the initiative as it holds lots of benefits for them.
”The One Political Ward, One Farm Estate initiative, will solve so many issues particularly food insecurity.
”The issue of incessant crises between farmers and herders will also be solved because the farm estates will be fenced round.
”This is a vision and initiative by Dr. Peter Mbah, to ensure that every issue concerning crises between herders and farmers is nipped in the bud.
”When there is massive productivity and production in the farming estates, it will create employment, especially for the youths.”
He also revealed that the state government would collaborate with the 17 local government chairmen to put in place 24 hours security and monitoring within the farm estates.