Davidson Ogbebor

The Edo State Government has commenced the harvesting of more than 500 hectares of maize cultivated at the Udomi Farm in Esan Central Local Government Area, as part of efforts to boost food production and strengthen the state’s agricultural value chain.

The harvest, being undertaken through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, is expected to provide raw materials for industries and livestock producers while contributing to the state government’s food security drive.

Speaking with journalists during an inspection of the farm, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Jerry Nwangue, said the project demonstrated Edo State’s capacity to produce food on a commercial scale for both domestic consumption and industrial purposes.

Nwangue said the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo remained committed to developing agriculture, adding that the governor had consistently encouraged Edo residents, particularly youths, to embrace farming.

He explained that the Udomi project was only one component of the government’s agricultural programme, noting that large-scale farming activities were also ongoing in other parts of the state.

According to him, the government has established cassava and rice farms at the Ekpoma settlement, while similar rice and cassava production projects are ongoing in Warake and Iguoriakhi.

“This is way bigger than what we saw last year. We are expanding. This is just one phase. What we are here to witness today is something that has not been done before,” he said.

The commissioner described the administration’s approach to agriculture as “practical governance,” stressing that the government was focused on concrete measures to increase food production and strengthen Edo’s agricultural economy.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Golden Ugbodu, described the scale of agricultural activities under the present administration as unprecedented in the state.

Ugbodu expressed optimism that sustained investment in agriculture would enable Edo State to achieve food sufficiency and contribute significantly to national food production.

“This is the brain of Mr. Governor. When he came, he said Edo must be food sufficient. We have never seen a massive farm like this before,” he said.

The Programme Manager of the Edo State Agricultural Development Programme, Princewill Igbinedion, said the current maize harvest represented a significant improvement over the previous year’s agricultural activities.

He noted that the maize would provide essential raw materials for livestock producers, particularly poultry farmers and other animal husbandry businesses.

The Director of Agricultural Services in the Edo State Ministry of Agriculture, Ugunbor David, described the cultivation and harvesting at the Udomi Farm as an example of mechanised agriculture.

The officials said the Udomi maize project formed part of the Okpebholo administration’s broader agricultural intervention aimed at transforming Edo State into a major food-producing hub.