The Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) in partnership with the Enugu State Government has initiated its Southeast Agro-Development Programme (SEADP) with a 200-hectare integrated agricultural development project in Nomeh Unateze, Nkanu East Local Government Area. This project marks the commission's first agro-development intervention in the 15 senatorial zones of the Southeast. The initiative aims to transform agriculture and the rural economy through mechanization, investment, processing, logistics, market access, and export-oriented value chains.
Enugu State Deputy Governor Ifeanyi Ossai, representing Governor Peter Mbah, emphasized that the project showcases the potential of collaboration between state governments and the SEDC. He noted that food security encompasses more than just providing food; it also involves addressing poverty, unemployment, and insecurity while expanding the middle class. Ossai stated that agriculture is a crucial sector that can help move people from poverty to sufficiency and create sustainable economic opportunities.
The deputy governor highlighted the importance of infrastructure and security in attracting investments to the agricultural sector. He mentioned that roads, healthcare, transport, and security are critical components of the agricultural development ecosystem. Ossai urged the SEDC to develop a framework that would enable the Nomeh project to extend beyond its immediate location through partnerships with private-sector operators and farmers across the Enugu East Senatorial District.
Minister of Regional Development Abubakar Momoh commended the SEDC and the Northcentral Development Commission for demonstrating capacity and vision. He stated that the Nomeh project aligns with the Federal Government's policies and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration's priorities, particularly the emphasis on food security. Momoh praised Governor Mbah for providing the land for the project and described the 200 hectares earmarked for the initiative as a significant contribution to agricultural development.
Momoh expressed hope that the project's impact would extend beyond Nomeh to other parts of the South East and Nigeria. He urged the people of the host community and the wider region to support the project, emphasizing that collaboration between the Enugu State Government, the SEDC, and communities would be critical to the success of regional development initiatives.
SEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mark Okoye described the flag-off as the beginning of the commission's transition from planning to visible implementation. He said the Nomeh facility would incorporate agricultural production, mechanization, processing, and practical training, with an out-grower programme enabling farmers in surrounding communities to participate in the value chain.
The project is expected to support food production, create jobs, develop agricultural skills, and provide a model that can be replicated in other parts of the zone. Key aspects of the project include its potential to transform agriculture, address poverty and unemployment, and promote sustainable economic opportunities.
Key points
- The SEDC has launched a 200-hectare integrated agricultural development project in Enugu State as part of its Southeast Agro-Development Programme.
- The project aims to transform agriculture and the rural economy through mechanization, investment, processing, logistics, market access, and export-oriented value chains.
- The initiative is expected to support food production, create jobs, develop agricultural skills, and provide a replicable model for other parts of the zone.
