The South East Development Commission, SEDC, has commenced the development of a 200-hectare integrated model farm at Nomeh Unataeze in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State. This project is part of the Commission's South East Agro-Development Programme, aimed at increasing food production, creating jobs, developing agricultural skills, and strengthening value chains across the region.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, who represented Governor Peter Mbah, and other stakeholders, including the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, and SEDC Chairman, Dr Emeka Wogu. Ossai described the project as a collaboration between the state government and SEDC that would go beyond food production by creating jobs, developing skills, and supporting farmers across the agricultural value chain.
The integrated model farm will combine dairy, poultry, fisheries, fodder production, greenhouse farming, processing, mechanisation, renewable energy, and practical agricultural training. The farm will include a 200-head dairy herd and poultry production capacity of up to 20,000 birds per cycle. This setup will allow different farm activities to support one another, such as fodder production supplying the livestock component, while manure and poultry waste support energy generation and improve soil fertility.
The project aims to demonstrate how technology, mechanisation, production, processing, training, and markets can operate within one agricultural system. According to SEDC's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mark Okoye, the real measure of success will extend beyond the 200-hectare facility, creating opportunities for young people to acquire practical skills and for farmers to access inputs, technical support, mechanisation, and markets.
The programme includes an out-grower scheme designed to bring surrounding smallholder farmers into the agricultural value chain, starting with about 300 households within a 10-kilometre radius of the farm. Participating farmers will have access to planting materials, technical assistance, mechanisation, and aggregation services. The training centre is expected to accommodate between 100 and 120 trainees at a time, covering dairy husbandry, fodder and silage production, poultry, fisheries, and mechanisation.
SEDC projects that the farm could support more than 1,000 direct jobs and additional opportunities through seasonal activities and the wider out-grower network. The Commission plans to use lessons from the project to improve and replicate the model across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states. The host community has pledged its cooperation, with the President General of Nomeh Unataeze, Dr Chukwudi Anyianuka, stating that residents welcome the project and understand the responsibility that comes with hosting an initiative of its scale.
The project aligns with the Federal Government's focus on food production, agricultural productivity, mechanisation, processing, and stronger value chains. SEDC's Chairman, Dr Emeka Wogu, emphasised the need for partnership in regional development, stating that the Commission cannot work in isolation from state governments, communities, the private sector, and development partners.
Key points
- SEDC launches 200-hectare integrated model farm to boost food production and create jobs in South East Nigeria.
- The project includes an out-grower scheme to support smallholder farmers and a training centre to accommodate 100-120 trainees.
- SEDC aims to replicate the model across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states after a successful pilot in Enugu State.
