Chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State, Hon. John Ogbodo, is leading an Agro Project aimed at establishing a 200-hectare Smart farm estate in Amurri community in Enugu State.
The Initiative is part of Governor Mbah’s smart farming agenda across local governments in the state to provide employment opportunities for locals while promoting food security.
In an inspection round in one of the farms in the community, Ogbodo said that the implementation of the smart farm agenda by the government would not only boost local productivity but would also combat insecurity and reduce the threat of Fulani herdsmen in the state.
“We are trying to use that place to clear them (Fulani herdsmen) from that place.“If you go there, you will see their huts and thatched houses everywhere,” he said
He explained that 13 additional farm estates are in the works in 14 wards in the local government area. The farm estates are designed to serve each locality, providing jobs and promoting food security as well.
Ogbodo noted that he was personally invited by the traditional leader of the Amurri community to map out the lands used for the project. The traditional leaders of the other communities also did the same, providing legal cover and consultation for the lands used for the smart farm project.
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The Nkanu West LGA chairman assured indigenes of the various communities that the local government will provide compensation for any crop or farmland claimed by the smart farm agenda of the Enugu government.
He also harped on pending land disputes, stating that such cases are to be suspended for the greater good of the community. Ogbodo said that anyone arguing against the setting up of the smart farm estate in Amurri was a landgraber and shouldn’t be given a listening audience at all.
Smart Farm Agenda
Governor Peter Mbah’s “One Ward, One Smart Farm Estate” initiative aims to revolutionize agriculture in Enugu State, Nigeria, by establishing 260 Smart Farm Estates across all political wards.
The project was launched with a N2 billion 2025 budget allocation and aims to promote mechanized farming, targeting crops like sorghum and Ose Nsukka for local and export markets.
It also addresses youth unemployment, food insecurity, and modern farming knowledge gaps through training and partnerships with organizations like IFAD-VCDP. The pilot project in Akpawfu features include irrigation, security, and reliable electricity, promoting economic diversification and boosting the state’s Internally Generated Revenue
