By Isaac Mission
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) is set to launch its first agro-mechanisation project in the region as part of a wider plan to improve agricultural production, create jobs and strengthen food security.
The pilot project, located in Nomeh Unateze in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, is one of 15 agro-mechanisation projects planned across the region’s 15 senatorial zones.
SEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Okoye, disclosed this during a site inspection and engagement with community leaders in Nomeh Unateze.
Okoye explained that the Commission spent its first year after being established in 2024 conducting studies and developing a comprehensive development blueprint for the South East.
According to him, agriculture and mechanised farming form an important component of the plan, particularly because of their potential to address unemployment, food insecurity and other economic challenges.
He said the Commission intends to develop as much as 50,000 hectares of farmland across the South East for mechanised agriculture.
For the initial phase, between 200 and 300 hectares will be developed in each of the 15 senatorial zones as pilot standard farms.
The farms are expected to support the production of crops such as cassava and maize, alongside selected cash crops. Some locations will also have learning and productivity centres to support agricultural development and skills acquisition.
Okoye said the visit to Nomeh Unateze was part of preparations for the project’s commencement, including assessing the site, engaging residents and ensuring contractors are ready to begin work.
He added that the agricultural investment could attract an additional N4 billion to N5 billion in investment to the area.
The SEDC chief also disclosed that the Commission plans to establish an investment agency that would help attract investments from residents of the region and members of the South East diaspora.
Speaking during the engagement, Uche Anichukwu, media aide to the Enugu State Governor and a community leader, described the project as a significant development for Nomeh Unateze and the wider state.
Anichukwu pointed to the Nenwe-Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara road, including its connection to Oduma, as an important infrastructure link that could improve access to markets for the proposed agricultural development.
The Chairman of the Nomeh Unateze Town Union Caretaker Committee, Dr. Chukwudi Anyianuka, expressed the community’s support for the initiative.
Anyianuka said residents were eager to see the project become operational and pledged the community’s cooperation to ensure its successful implementation.
He also commended the SEDC for adopting what he described as a structured approach to regional development, noting that the Commission conducted studies before designing its development plan.
Traditional rulers, community leaders and other stakeholders from Nomeh Unateze attended the engagement.
The agro-mechanisation initiative is expected to form part of the SEDC’s broader efforts to expand agricultural production and economic opportunities across the South East.
