Okpebholo Flags Off 200-Hectare Udomi Farm Project, Empowers Edo Central Farmers

Edo State’s ongoing commitment to agricultural revival and food security received fresh momentum as Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration took its farming empowerment campaign to Edo Central Senatorial District.

In a dual-pronged exercise led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the state government on Tuesday inspected the ongoing Udomi Farm Project and hosted a farmers’ sensitization programme under the Fadama Cares Initiative.

The day’s activities began with an inspection visit to the Udomi Adohe Axis, where the expansive 200-hectare Udomi Farm Project is fast taking shape. To boost cultivation capacity, the government delivered three brand-new tractors to the farm site, further demonstrating Governor Okpebholo’s unwavering support for the agricultural sector under his SHINE Agenda.

Speaking during the visit, Golden Ugbodu, Specialist Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, expressed optimism about the farm’s maize cultivation target, disclosing that planting is expected to commence in the coming weeks.

“We are aiming for a substantial harvest, and the Governor has promised full support to farmers across the state. However, this commitment comes with a call for farmers’ dedication and discipline as a prerequisite for sustained assistance,” Ugbodu stated.

Shortly after the inspection, the focus shifted to Irrua, headquarters of Esan Central Local Government Area, where farmers converged for a sensitization session on the Fadama Cares programme.

Addressing participants, Hon. Ali Ibrahim, Edo State Fadama Cares Project Coordinator, assured farmers that all interventions under the initiative are entirely free of charge and targeted at empowering low-income and COVID-19-affected farmers.

He announced that grant disbursements will soon commence, including the distribution of essential agricultural inputs like high-yield cassava cuttings, fertilizers, and machinery to duly accredited farmer groups.

“Our goal is to restore and sustain food security for vulnerable farmers and expand the state’s agricultural output. These grassroots interventions are not only about inputs but about building human capital and sustainable practices that will secure the future of our food systems,” Ibrahim said.

The Fadama Cares structure, built around Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs), is strategically designed to promote efficient input provision, asset acquisition, and potential irrigation support for group-based farming initiatives.

Both activities mark another milestone in Edo State’s determined push to reposition agriculture as a key driver of economic development while offering renewed hope and prosperity to farming communities.