The Enugu State Government, under the leadership of Governor Dr. Peter Mbah, has taken a significant step toward ensuring food security by insuring over 9,000 farmers against agricultural risks. This initiative, part of the Mbah administration’s commitment to agricultural development, was highlighted during the flag-off of the Harvesting Hope Caravan (HHC), a collaborative effort with the Presidency’s Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU), Pula Advisors, Leadway Insurance Company, and donor partners.
The insurance program protects farmers from hazards that threaten production, reinforcing their confidence in the agricultural sector. Dr. Patrick Ubru, the Commissioner for Agriculture, emphasized the government’s plan to insure over 9,000 farmers for four seasons, supported by an updated database currently holding over 70,000 farmers’ records. The administration also pledges to provide quality farm inputs across the state, aligning with its vision to transform agriculture into a profitable business.
The Harvesting Hope Caravan, coordinated by Arch Safiya Umar, was launched as a national grassroots platform to foster dialogue, engagement, and mobilization between government policy and the people. Umar noted that the initiative, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, promotes sustainable agricultural transformation through evidence-based policies and people-centered solutions. The caravan connects policymakers, farmers, agribusinesses, and communities, giving youth and smallholder farmers a meaningful voice in shaping interventions.
Deputy Governor Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai commended the Presidency for strengthening food security nationwide, describing it as the cornerstone of Enugu State’s economic stability. He highlighted the state’s agricultural reforms, focused on creating wealth, jobs, and sustainable livelihoods. Uguwu Ndubuisi of Pula Advisors praised Enugu’s proactive participation in the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM), which synchronizes data-driven planning and implementation alongside the HHC.
Governor Mbah, represented by Dr. Peter Mbah, reaffirmed the state’s readiness to serve as a model for agribusiness innovation in Nigeria, driven by trust, inclusivity, and sustainability. The government has also established the Enugu Agricultural Farmland Bank, housing over 130,000 hectares to attract investment and support commercial farming, and is developing Farm Estates in every political ward to support farmers with land, inputs, and produce purchase guarantees.
This milestone reflects the visionary leadership of Governor Mbah and his agricultural team, with ongoing enumeration, data collection, and crop-cut experiments. The initiative underscores Enugu’s commitment to ensuring no farmer suffers avoidable losses through transparent and accountable insurance commitments.
Reported by Collins
