The Enugu State Government says all 260 Farm Estates across the state will reach full operational capacity in 2026, with farmers gaining access to mechanised tools, modern storage, and processing facilities to prevent post-harvest losses.
Governor Peter Mbah disclosed this during his 2026 New Year’s Day broadcast, where he highlighted agriculture as one of the state’s key economic drivers for the new year. He said the Farm Estates initiative would transform rural economies by supporting farmers with equipment, infrastructure, and market access that would guarantee productivity and food security.
According to the Governor, “Our farmers now stand at the doorstep of a new agricultural economy, with 260 Farm Estates that would reach full traction this year. No farmer should lose his harvest to rot again. We are building both farms and futures.” He described the programme as a comprehensive step towards reshaping the state’s agricultural value chain through mechanisation and efficient post-harvest management.
Governor Mbah explained that the 260 Farm Estates were spread across all wards of the state, designed to ensure that no community is left behind in the state’s agricultural transformation. Each estate, he said, will operate as a complete hub equipped with irrigation systems, machinery, processing zones, and storage facilities to minimize wastage and preserve food for longer periods.
He added that the government’s goal was to make agriculture both profitable and sustainable. By moving from subsistence to mechanised farming, farmers will be able to expand production, reduce manual labour, and increase output. “We are determined to create a system where every farmer has access to the tools and support they need to thrive,” the Governor said. “Mechanisation is not just about machines; it is about empowering our people to produce more and earn more.”
The Governor also noted that the storage and processing components of the Farm Estates would help eliminate the common issue of food spoilage that has affected farmers’ income over the years. With modern storage facilities and small processing plants located close to production areas, crops such as cassava, maize, rice, vegetables, and fruits will be processed into market-ready goods.
He stated that the initiative was not only about producing food but also about creating a new generation of agro-entrepreneurs. By investing in these estates, the state aims to attract young people back to farming through technology-driven and profitable models. “The farms we are building are not the farms of the past,” he said. “They are smart, connected, and designed to inspire the youth to see agriculture as a pathway to wealth creation and self-reliance.”
Governor Mbah explained that the estates would also support rural industrialisation by linking production to processing, packaging, and distribution. This integrated system, he said, will create thousands of jobs in farming, logistics, and agribusiness while ensuring that value from agriculture stays within the local communities.
He emphasized that food security was at the core of his administration’s economic vision. The Farm Estates, according to him, will play a major role in reducing dependence on imported food and stabilising prices across markets in the state. The Governor assured that the government would continue to provide enabling infrastructure, access to finance, and extension services to make the programme sustainable.
“We are building both farms and futures,” he repeated, stressing that the success of the programme depends on the active participation of farmers, cooperatives, and investors. He said his administration had already begun collaborating with local and foreign partners to bring in more equipment, establish seed multiplication centres, and expand agro-processing capacity.
The Governor reaffirmed that 2026 will be a defining year for agriculture in Enugu State. With the Farm Estates reaching full traction, mechanised tools in farmers’ hands, and post-harvest losses drastically reduced, he said the sector will become one of the biggest contributors to the state’s economy. He urged farmers to take advantage of the opportunities being created and assured them that the state’s support structures are in place to ensure long-term benefits for all participants in the agricultural value chain.