By AnchorNews Correspondent 

Senior officials of the Enugu State Government have undertaken an on-the-spot assessment of the Amurri Farm Estate in Nkanu West Local Government Area, as work advances under the state’s ambitious Enugu Farm Estates programme aimed at large-scale job creation, enhanced food production, and agro-industrial development.

The inspection was led by the Executive Chairman of Nkanu West LGA, Hon. John Chukwuma Ogbodo, alongside the Consultant on Farm Estates, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji, and the Managing Director of the Enugu Marketing Company, Engr. Mike Ogbuekwe, who also serves as Special Adviser to Governor Peter Mbah on Agriculture.

Addressing stakeholders during the visit, Hon. Ogbodo described the Amurri project as a people-centred initiative designed to translate government policy into tangible community benefits. He said the farm estate reflects the state government’s resolve to stimulate local economies through agriculture while providing sustainable livelihoods for residents.

According to the council chairman, the local government will continue to offer institutional backing to ensure the success of the project, noting that agriculture remains one of the most effective tools for youth engagement and rural economic stability. He added that initiatives such as the Amurri Farm Estate help reduce rural–urban migration by creating viable economic opportunities within host communities.

Providing an overview of the broader programme, Engr. Ogbuekwe explained that the Enugu Farm Estates initiative is structured to deliver employment at scale while strengthening food sufficiency across the state. He disclosed that the programme targets 52,000 direct agro-based jobs and 156,000 indirect jobs across Enugu State’s 260 wards, amounting to an estimated 208,000 employment opportunities in farming, processing, logistics, and produce marketing.

The Special Adviser noted that boosting domestic food production is critical to economic resilience, stressing that local agricultural output would reduce dependence on external supply chains, stabilise food prices, and protect the state’s economy from market disruptions. He added that the programme is also expected to significantly cut youth unemployment.

In his remarks, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji emphasised the industrial dimension of the farm estates policy, explaining that agriculture must be positioned to support value-added processing and manufacturing.

He cited cassava as an example, noting that with appropriate pre-processing and preservation, the crop could serve as a raw material for multiple industries beyond traditional food uses.

The officials expressed confidence that the Amurri Farm Estate would emerge as a benchmark for sustainable agricultural development in Enugu State, reaffirming the government’s commitment to repositioning agriculture as a key driver of job creation, food security, and long-term economic growth.