South-East Development Commission to launch 50,000-hectare agro-mechanisation project

The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) is set to launch a 50,000-hectare agro-mechanisation project to combat food insecurity, unemployment, and insecurity across the South-East region. The initiative will be implemented across 15 senatorial zones in the five states of Enugu, Ebonyi, Abia, Anambra, and Imo.

Managing Director Mark Okoye announced that the pilot scheme will commence in the Nomeh Unateze community within the Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State on September 22. The project aims to transition local farmers from subsistence-based manual labour to commercially viable production models through the deployment of modern agricultural machinery.

Following its establishment in 2024, the SEDC conducted extensive studies to design this blueprint. The commission intends to develop 200 to 300 hectares of farmland per senatorial zone as part of the initial phase to increase regional productivity and reduce post-harvest losses.