Mbah flags off distribution of N4.6bn agro inputs, MSMEs grants

Enugu State governor, Mr Peter Mbah, on Thursday, flagged off the distribution of inputs and grants worth over N4.6bn in continuation of his food security, agro industrialization, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to farmers and IT startups in the state.

Performing the symbolic exercise at the Michael Okpara Square, Mbah said that it was imperative to nurture small-scale entrepreneurs for sustainable growth by the provision of key enablers since they remained the lifeblood of economic development.

He said that 12,000 small-holder farmers would each receive one bag of fertilizer, which the federal government had graciously donated to all states.

“In addition, we would be giving out 51 power tillers worth N2m each to farmers from across farming clusters in Enugu State,” Mbah said.

“We are also flagging off today the distribution of agricultural inputs to 1,251 beneficiaries across the 17 local government areas. These inputs include rice and bean seedlings, cassava stems, organic fertilisers, herbicides, among others.”

The governor added that his administration would carry out an extensive revamp of several rural roads to facilitate a better road network and ensure that the farming clusters springing up across the rural belt of the state did not exist as isolated units.

Mbah said the support to MSMEs was worth N1bn with women-owned enterprises getting 80 percent of the entire sum.

“The value of our entrepreneurship intervention programme being flagged off today is N1bn. This includes the disbursement of N60,000 to over 16,000 beneficiaries, mostly comprising owners of nano-enterprises on a ratio of 80:20 in favour of women,” Mbah said.

“Some may indeed wonder why this wide discrepancy. We recognise that much of the brunt of poverty is borne by women. That explains the extra efforts we put into expanding opportunities for the girl-child and women, especially in our rural communities.

“Still under our MSMEs intervention, we are disbursing N400,000 to 187 beneficiaries. Other initiatives in this regard for flag-off include N7.5m each to 10 tech startups, operational grant for solar equipment to 256 beneficiaries, while items, including laptop computers and POS terminals, will be given out to 269 beneficiaries.”

He disclosed that the state was also waging war against open defecation to end the menace by the end of 2024.

“We are launching, as well, a water provision and sanitation-enhancing initiative worth N15m across 135 communities. The total value translates to over Two Billion Naira,” Mbah said.

“This involves the construction of ultra-modern boreholes, toilet facilities, and provision of power generators. These would be sited in locations like town halls, markets, and schools.”

Earlier in his address, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Patrick Ubru, enjoined the farmers and other beneficiaries to reciprocate government’s massive support through prudent application of the inputs and grants to create jobs, trigger revolution in the agricultural industry, and boost the state’s economy.

Also, Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Enugu State Chapter, Romanus Eze, assured the governor that the farmers and other beneficiaries would not disappoint the government.

“We have never had it so good. Therefore, we will not disappoint you. We promise you concrete results, for to whom much is given, much is also expected,” he assured.