How Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration is restructuring Agricultural Development in Enugu State

Nigeria is one of the most populous countries in Africa. With an agricultural economy of $1.5 million, it ranks among the major producers on the continent. However, due to changing demographics and climate change, it has also become one of the most food-insecure countries in the world. To address this issue, Nigeria has implemented policies aimed at agricultural development.

Enugu is a state in Eastern Nigeria with a population size of 4 million people. At the present, the state’s agriculture sector employs more than 50% of its population and contributes about 10% to Nigeria’s total GDP according to …….. It is also one of the few states that have developed formal policies for agriculture development. Here are some ways Enugu State is working towards agricultural development.

The Journey so Far

In recent times, Nigeria has seen a spike in farmer-herder conflict. The rise of farmer-herder violence in Enugu State is more dangerous than the death toll alone because it is frequently exacerbated by emotionally charged factors such as ethnicity, religion, culture, and land. Although farmers and pastoralists have had a long history of rivalry, the current climate of violence is unique in contemporary history. Mohammed NdatsuAliyu, the state Commissioner of Police, has ordered a thorough inquiry into the reasons that lead to farmer-herder confrontations in the state, to apprehend and prosecute culprits.

At the Government House in Enugu, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi recently signed the anti-open grazing bill into law. According to experts, this law has enacted a measure prohibiting open grazing, regulating cattle ranching, and for other related purposes. In August, several communities in Nkanu land, which is part of Enugu State’s East Senatorial District, have been hit by severe rainfall. Following the collapse and washing away of wooden bridges that connected them, certain settlements were shut off from the rest of the state. Farmers in the area lost a lot of money since their farmland and livestock were flooded. As a result, the community addressed Governor IfeanyiUgwuanyi an SOS letter requesting immediate action on the collapsed wooden bridge. Gov. Ugwuanyi utilized the launch of the 5.4-kilometre Amagunze Road, which was funded by a renowned son of the area, EvaristusNnaji to announce that his administration will repair the bridge that connects Amagunze-AmechiIdodo-Oruku in Nkanu East while expressing the readiness of his administration to the development of rural areas he promised that he had left no stone unturned in improving the lives of rural residents.

Meanwhile, Mike Ogbuekwe, the governor’s special adviser on agriculture, has led a team from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to examine the floods in Amaechi-Idodo, which damaged farmlands and fish ponds. Ogbuekwe told community leaders and other stakeholders in the affected areas that their mission was to determine the extent of the flood’s damage, assuring them that their report would be forwarded to the Federal Government, which would send relief materials and assistance to the area’s affected farmers.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration set out to boost the state’s agricultural industry by providing “seed inputs, infrastructure, and mechanization for nearly 11,000 farmers under the FADAMA III Additional Finance” program.” and “the Commercial Agricultural Development Programme (CADP) provides basic inputs and empowers over 700 commercial farmers and cooperatives throughout the state.”

Other achievements, according to the farmers, include “complete profiling and listing of 1,700 farmers and farmers’ cooperatives under the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS), soon to begin pre-disbursement training,” and “The establishment of an intervention fund to boost agricultural development in rice and cassava production in five local government areas in Enugu State, namely Aninri, Nkanu East, Isi-Uzo, Enugu East, and Udenu, which The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is in charge of this.

When they paid a courtesy visit to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Matthew Idu, to congratulate Gov. Ugwuanyi on the New Year, the chairman of the AFAN, Enugu State chapter, Chief Romanus Ezeh, praised the state government for “providing critical infrastructure and developing agricultural productivity in rice, cassava, and sorghum in tandem with the African Development Bank.” and “the provision of farm inputs, fertilizers, improved seeds, and agrochemicals to over 2000 Rice and Cassava farmers under the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES).” The AFAN chairman stated that the farmers were “certainly, extremely proud to be involved with the huge strides,” and advised all of their members to prepare for the upcoming farming season, noting that the state government will provide them with even more help.

In a meeting between the Enugu State Government and teams from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other relevant stakeholders, Mr Tony Ifechukwu, Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, revealed the State Government has given consent to CBN to resuscitate state-owned agricultural industries that have been dormant for some time. The CBN reiterated its commitment to making the state economically competitive, noting that there are discussions between the central bank and the state’s Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization to revive the agricultural factories.

Recently, during a press conference in Enugu, the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) Enugu State Coordinator Mr Edward Isiwu, stated that food production has increased significantly and that this was possible through the Organization’s capacity building for rice and cassava farmers and, other interventions. He said that “the organization’s goal was to make Enugu the hub of Nigeria’s staple and cash crops”, while also requesting media support in the endeavour to use the two key crops of rice and cassava to alleviate hunger and increase the state’s economy. provides basic inputs and empowers over 700 commercial farmers and cooperatives throughout the state.”

Other achievements, according to the farmers, include “complete profiling and listing of 1,700 farmers and farmers’ cooperatives under the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEALS), soon to begin pre-disbursement training,” and “The establishment of an intervention fund to boost agricultural development in rice and cassava production in five local government areas in Enugu State, namely Aninri, Nkanu East, Isi-Uzo, Enugu East, and Udenu, which The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is in charge of this.

When they paid a courtesy visit to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Matthew Idu, to congratulate Gov. Ugwuanyi on the New Year, the chairman of the AFAN, Enugu State chapter, Chief Romanus Ezeh, praised the state government for “providing critical infrastructure and developing agricultural productivity in rice, cassava, and sorghum in tandem with the African Development Bank.” and “the provision of farm inputs, fertilizers, improved seeds, and agrochemicals to over 2000 Rice and Cassava farmers under the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES).” The AFAN chairman stated that the farmers were “certainly, extremely proud to be involved with the huge strides,” and advised all of their members to prepare for the upcoming farming season, noting that the state government will provide them with even more help.

In a meeting between the Enugu State Government and teams from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other relevant stakeholders, Mr Tony Ifechukwu, Special Adviser to the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, revealed the State Government has given consent to CBN to resuscitate state-owned agricultural industries that have been dormant for some time. The CBN reiterated its commitment to making the state economically competitive, noting that there are discussions between the central bank and the state’s Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization to revive the agricultural factories.

Recently, during a press conference in Enugu, the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s (IFAD) Enugu State Coordinator Mr Edward Isiwu, stated that food production has increased significantly and that this was possible through the Organization’s capacity building for rice and cassava farmers and, other interventions. He said that “the organization’s goal was to make Enugu the hub of Nigeria’s staple and cash crops”, while also requesting media support in the endeavour to use the two key crops of rice and cassava to alleviate hunger and increase the state’s economy.

The Way Forward

The agricultural sector’s importance in Nigeria is reflected in its high part of GDP in most states, as well as the even higher amount of employment in rural regions, in terms of commerce and trade. While the total value of agricultural output has increased significantly over the last decade, the state’s annual increases in food costs have resulted in unequal success in eradicating hunger in Enugu.

In light of agriculture’s clear role in addressing the challenge of eradicating hunger and improving food security, Gov. Ugwuanyi has remained committed to his vision of building Enugu State by contributing to and providing infrastructure, increasing agricultural productivity, alleviating poverty, and improving the livelihoods of rural households.

While public investments in infrastructure, research, and extension are important, creating an enabling environment that encourages private investment and job creation in both the farming and non-farm sectors will have significant payoffs, allowing the state’s economic transformation to proceed smoothly. The effective implementation of investment initiatives at the state and local government levels will help Enugu state achieve its hunger elimination goals and ensure food security.

Written by Nwusulor Alexander