As one of the measures put in place to ensuring food sufficiency in the state , Enugu state Government has approved Fifteen thousand hectares of land for Ugwuanama farms Limited, for Agricultural production in Isi-Uzo local government area of the state.
Pix- SSG signing the MoU on behalf of Enugu state Government.
The state government has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the farms.
Speaking shortly after signing the MoU on Tuesday, March 13, 2024 in Government House, Enugu, the state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah’, described the partnership as significant and symbolic. He congratulated Ugwuanama farms Limited, and expressed the hope for a good partnership with the farms.
Pix- SSG,Prof. Onyia(3rd L) in a handshake with Nnaji
Governor Mbah, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government , Prof Chidiebere Onyia,, also said they looked forward to seeing those milestones they agreed with the farms as a partnership. He also said they looked forward to seeing an increased yield and Increased Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Ugwuanama farms Limited , Sani Friday Nnaji, said, they had started production, as they were producing, they will be processing..The aim ,he said , “is to crash the cost, so that we have cheap.food to eat. He added that they will be creating jobs for jobless youths.
“The aim again is to get out -growers, get youths, women back to farm. Apart from 15,000 hectares. I have done it in Isi-Izo ,with 1500 farmers . We are going to have about over 5,000 farmers cultivating their own farmlands.We already established cassava processing plant in Isi-Uzo and we have cultivated cassava of more than 1000 hectares .So, when cassava is due for processing, we will start cultivation immediately” he said..
Nnaji said they had started majorly with Rice, cassava, oil palm, maize and yam . “So, as we are producing , we are processing. So, the aim is to crash the cost, so we could have cheap food to eat,” he said.
pix- Commissioner for Agriculture,Ubro( m)
On the number of job to be created, Nnaji said they were expecting about 200,000 to 300,000 jobs and they will finish in two years .
On the management of the farms, he said they will bring in expertrates , “We have a lot of partners who are coming .We are brining in a lot of machines We are going to develop a very good smart farm in Isi-Uzo, he said.
Pix- Nnaji (L)
peaking on security, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro- industrialization that Ubru, said the state Government provided security (military base)i in Isi-Uzo Loca government area.
He added that the State Government was doing enough, “It acquired the land, made it available for them and created access road to the are”, Ubru said.
it is expected that the farms will boost Agricultural production in Enugu state and make cost of food cheap .
Author: Maureen Ikpeama