In a bold move to strengthen food security and transform agriculture into a sustainable and profitable enterprise, the Enugu State Government has announced its partnership with the Harvesting Hope Caravan (HHC), a flagship initiative under the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) in the Office of the Vice President. This collaboration also involves Pula Advisors, its donor partners, and Leadway Insurance Company, marking a significant step toward enhancing agricultural resilience and economic stability in the state. The partnership aligns with the state’s broader vision of fostering inclusive, data-driven, and sustainable agricultural practices, while addressing the challenges faced by farmers, such as climate-induced risks and post-harvest losses.
As part of this initiative, the administration of Governor Peter Mbah has insured no fewer than 9,000 farmers against agricultural risks for the 2025 wet season, safeguarding their livelihoods and boosting their confidence in the sector. This insurance scheme, a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural reforms, aims to mitigate the financial impact of unforeseen challenges like floods, droughts, and other climate-related hazards that have historically plagued farmers. By providing this safety net, the government is not only protecting farmers’ investments but also reinforcing agriculture as a viable and attractive business opportunity.
The flag-off ceremony for the initiative was a significant event, attended by key stakeholders, including representatives from the state government, the PFSCU, Pula Advisors, and Leadway Insurance. Speaking at the event, Arch. Safiya Umar, the Coordinator of the Harvesting Hope Caravan, described the programme as a national grassroots platform designed to foster dialogue, engagement, and mobilization. She emphasized that the HHC serves as a bridge between government policies and the people, ensuring that agricultural interventions are inclusive and rooted in local cultural norms. “The Harvesting Hope Caravan fosters dialogue, builds partnerships, and unifies efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems,” Umar stated. “It promotes inclusivity by giving women, youth, and smallholder farmers a meaningful voice in shaping interventions that affect their lives.”
Umar further highlighted the alignment of the HHC with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes sustainable agricultural transformation through evidence-based policies and people-centered solutions. The initiative seeks to create a robust food system by connecting policymakers, farmers, agribusinesses, and communities, ensuring that the benefits of agricultural reforms are felt at the grassroots level. By fostering collaboration and dialogue, the HHC aims to address systemic challenges in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, such as low productivity, limited access to resources, and inadequate infrastructure.
Mr. Ugwu Ndubuisi, the Head of Pula Advisors in Enugu State, commended the state government for its proactive participation in the National Agribusiness Policy Mechanism (NAPM), which works in tandem with the HHC to promote data-driven planning and implementation. Ndubuisi praised Governor Mbah’s visionary leadership for prioritizing farmers’ welfare and expanding access to agricultural insurance. “We are proud to congratulate Enugu State for insuring over 9,000 farmers during the 2025 wet season exercise,” he said. “This milestone reflects the visionary leadership of Governor Mbah and the dedication of his agricultural team.” He also noted that Pula Advisors is currently conducting full field operations, including enumeration, data collection, and crop-cut experiments, to ensure the success of the initiative.
Ndubuisi expressed gratitude to the PFSCU, Leadway Insurance, the Bayer Foundation, and the Enugu State Government for their contributions to the insurance initiative. He reaffirmed Pula Advisors’ commitment to supporting Nigeria’s national agribusiness and food security drive, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in achieving sustainable agricultural growth.
Representing Governor Peter Mbah, the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, underscored the critical role of food security in driving economic stability. He described Enugu State’s agricultural reforms as a deliberate strategy to create wealth, generate employment, and promote sustainable livelihoods. Ossai highlighted the establishment of the Enugu Agricultural Farmland Bank, which currently holds over 130,000 hectares of land to attract investment and support commercial farming. This initiative is designed to make large-scale farming accessible to investors and farmers alike, thereby boosting productivity and economic growth.
Additionally, Ossai outlined the state’s innovative Farm Estates program, which aims to establish agricultural hubs in every political ward. Under this program, the government prepares the land, allocates it to farmers, provides essential inputs, and guarantees the purchase of their produce. “Our goal is to move our people from seeing agriculture as a survival job to embracing it as a profitable business,” Ossai declared. He emphasized the state’s commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that all farmers—regardless of gender or residency status—have equal access to opportunities. “We treat every farmer equally, male or female, indigene or resident, because Enugu is a state of inclusivity and shared opportunity,” he added.
Ossai also reassured partners of the state’s commitment to transparency and accountability in implementing the insurance scheme. “We will ensure that every insured risk is treated with dispatch and that no farmer suffers avoidable loss,” he pledged. The deputy governor further positioned Enugu as a model for agribusiness innovation in Nigeria, driven by principles of trust, inclusivity, and sustainability.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Patrick Ubru, echoed these sentiments, lauding the partnership with the HHC and its stakeholders. He noted that Governor Mbah’s administration had strategically planned the agricultural sector’s outlook by insuring over 9,000 farmers for four seasons against disasters such as floods, pests, and drought. Ubru emphasized the government’s ongoing efforts to provide quality farm inputs and update its farmer database, which currently includes over 70,000 farmers. These efforts, he said, are aimed at ensuring that farmers have the resources and support they need to thrive in an increasingly challenging environment.
Representing the farmers, Alhaji Friday Sani, an agripreneur, expressed gratitude to both the federal and state governments for the initiative. He highlighted the significant challenges faced by farmers in Enugu, including low yields and post-harvest losses driven by climate change. The insurance package, he noted, would serve as a critical buffer against these risks, enabling farmers to increase production and contribute to food security. “This initiative will boost our confidence and help us produce more,” Sani said, underscoring the transformative potential of the program.
The partnership between the Enugu State Government and the Harvesting Hope Caravan represents a significant milestone in Nigeria’s quest for food security and agricultural transformation. By insuring thousands of farmers and fostering inclusive, data-driven policies, Enugu is setting a precedent for other states to follow. The state’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and sustainability ensures that the benefits of these initiatives will reach the grassroots, empowering farmers and strengthening the agricultural value chain.
As Nigeria grapples with the challenges of food insecurity, climate change, and economic instability, initiatives like the HHC and Enugu’s agricultural reforms offer a beacon of hope. By prioritizing partnerships, innovation, and inclusivity, the Enugu State Government is not only addressing immediate challenges but also laying the foundation for a prosperous and resilient agricultural sector. With continued collaboration between the state, federal government, and private partners, Enugu is poised to become a leader in agribusiness innovation, driving economic growth and ensuring food security for its people and beyond.
