The Enugu State government has flagged off a fertiliser and input distribution programme for over 60,000 smallholder farmers and agro-SMEs, in a bid to transform agriculture into a profitable enterprise and boost food security.
Speaking at the launch in Okpara Square, Governor Peter Mbah said the initiative would scale agribusiness, reduce poverty, and expand opportunities for SMEs operating in the agricultural value chain.
Beyond distributing 40,000 bags of fertiliser and other inputs, the state is establishing 200-hectare farm estates across all 260 wards, equipped with irrigation systems, warehouses, and tractor sheds. A tractor assembly plant is also underway, with over 100 tractors already delivered.
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The governor disclosed that Enugu Polytechnic is being upgraded into a University of Agriculture to train future agri-entrepreneurs, while agro-processing zones, export warehouses, and crop insurance schemes are being introduced to protect and grow SMEs in farming and food production.
Stakeholders, including the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), hailed the intervention as a "game-changer" for agro-SMEs, saying it would accelerate rural industrialisation and position agriculture as a strong driver of SME-led growth.
