Enugu state Governor ,Dr Peter Mbah has flag-off distribution of free fertiliser and agro- inputs to 60,000 registered farmers in the state, describing it as another bold step towards food security, poverty eradication, rural prosperity, and the transformation of farming into profitable venture in the state.
Speaking at the flag-off held Saturday, at the Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, Governor Mbah recalled that in 2024, his administration distributed 12,000 bags of fertilizer, power tillers, seedlings, cassava stems, and herbicides to farmers at no cost and that the intervention had led to bumper harvests and reduced food prices across the state.

Pix: The tractors
He said, “therefore, it gives me great joy to be here today to flag-off the distribution of over 40,000 bags of free fertilizers and other agro inputs. Our farmers are the backbone of our communities – the hands that till the soil and bring food to our tables. Without you, there is no sustenance, no prosperity, and no growth.”
Governor Mbah disclosed that 200-hectare Farm Estates were being established in each of the 260 political wards in the state, complete with irrigation systems, warehouses, tractor sheds, and power supply.

Pix: Gov Mbah
He added that 102 tractors had already been delivered, another 98 on the way, while 800 more would soon be assembled at the tractor plant nearing completion in the state capital.
“Farming is big business. That is why we are upgrading the Enugu State Polytechnic, Iwollo, into a University of Agriculture to train the next generation of agricultural scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators,” Mbah added.
He also reaffirmed ongoing efforts to establish Agro-Industrial Processing Zones and Agricultural Transformation Centres across the three senatorial zones.
The governor stressed that the free inputs would go directly to registered farmers in the state’s database without middlemen.

“There is no red tape. The only pre-condition is to be a registered farmer. Currently, we have over 60,000 farmers in our database,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization, Patrick Uburu, commended Governor Mbah for his commitments in improving agricultural development in the state, saying describing it as “an agricultural revolution in the state “
He said the long-abandoned assets such as Enugu United Palm Products, Adarice Irrigation Scheme, Ojor and Mgbagbu Owa irrigation projects, and Sunrise Flour Mill had been revitalised under Governor Mbah administration.
Uburu highlighted new initiatives under the governor, including the Enugu State Livestock Productivity Centre, a Cocoa Development Initiative targeting 3,000 hectares by 2027, greenhouse farming with 2,000 greenhouses by 2026, and export warehouses for cashew processing.
He also commended the governor for approving crop insurance premiums to protect farmers against climate shocks and pests.
“Today’s event signifies a new chapter; an affirmation that the Governor is fully committed to transforming our rural communities into vibrant centers of economic growth and prosperity. The sense of pride I derive as Commissioner is immeasurable. It is all thanks to His Excellency, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah – a man for whom there are no impossibilities,” Uburu said.
Speaking also, the Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu chapter, Romanus Eze, also lauded the governor for fulfilling his promises to farmers, even as he recalled that Enugu once had fewer than five functional tractors, but now had over 200, with a tractor assembly plant already set up in the state.
“The governor has not only given us inputs, he has brought mechanisation to our doorsteps. He promised 1,000 tractors, and today we are seeing them. The Farm Estates that are coming up in every ward, the new seed laboratory, and the support from traditional rulers for land access are transforming agriculture into real business,” Eze said.
On his part, the Chairman of Enugu North Local Government Area, Dr Ibenaku Onoh, described Mbah as “a governor, who does the big things as well as the small things,” stressing that the distribution of inputs in every ward reflected inclusive governance.
“What you are doing is to move Enugu from a state of consumption to a state of production. In agriculture, transport, water, and other sectors, you are doing wonders. The people are happy, and we promise to continue protecting your mandate,” he said.
Highlight of the event was the distribution of bags of fertilizer to farmers’ cooperatives from the 17 local government areas.
Author: Maureen Ikpeama