Edo Govt Begins Harvest Of Over 500 Hectares Of Maize At Udomi Farm

The Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, has commenced the harvesting of more than 500 hectares of maize cultivated at the Udomi Farm in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.

The harvest is part of the administration’s efforts to boost agricultural production, strengthen food security and provide a sustainable supply of raw materials for industries and other agricultural value chains across the state.

Speaking to journalists during an inspection of the farm, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Jerry Nwangue, said the scale of the harvest demonstrated the state’s capacity to produce food in commercial quantities for both domestic consumption and industrial purposes.

Nwangue said the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo had prioritised agriculture as a key component of its development agenda, noting that the governor had consistently encouraged residents, particularly young people, to embrace farming as a viable means of livelihood.

He explained that the government’s agricultural intervention extends beyond the Udomi Farm, with several large-scale projects ongoing in different parts of the state.

According to him, the government has established large cassava and rice farms at the Ekpoma settlement, while similar rice and cassava production activities 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 today is something that has not been done before,” the commissioner said.

Describing the administration’s approach to agriculture as “practical governance,” Nwangue said the government was focused on taking concrete steps to increase food production, create economic opportunities and strengthen Edo State’s agricultural value chain.

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 large-scale farming would enable Edo State to attain food sufficiency and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s overall 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 ongoing maize harvest represented a significant improvement over the previous year’s agricultural activities.

Igbinedion noted that the maize produced at the farm would provide essential raw materials for livestock producers, particularly poultry farmers and other animal husbandry businesses, thereby supporting activities across the agricultural value chain.

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

The officials said the Udomi maize project formed part of the Okpebholo administration’s broader agricultural intervention aimed at expanding food production, encouraging commercial farming and positioning Edo State as a major food-producing hub.

The government’s ongoing agricultural investments, they added, are expected to improve food availability, support farmers and agribusinesses, create employment opportunities and contribute to the state’s economic development.