By Kingsley Ohens

Urbanscoopnews

Agriculture is increasingly taking a central position in Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo’s economic transformation agenda for Edo State, with the administration pursuing a strategy that seeks to move agriculture beyond subsistence farming into large-scale production, agro-processing, investment, employment creation and food security.

The emerging agricultural direction of the Okpebholo administration is anchored on a simple proposition: Edo should not merely consume agricultural products; the State should produce, process and derive economic value from its abundant agricultural resources.

That philosophy became particularly clear when Governor Okpebholo disclosed that his administration increased the inherited agriculture allocation from ₦5 billion to ₦70 billion, describing agricultural development as a major pathway to food security and economic growth. The Governor stated that Edo must “grow what we eat and export what we grow.”

This significant financial commitment has been accompanied by practical interventions.

In April 2026, the Governor flagged off the 2026 farming season, marking another phase of the administration’s Back-to-Farm initiative and distributing agricultural inputs and equipment to farmers across all 18 Local Government Areas of the State.

The intervention included fertilisers, improved seedlings, agrochemicals, protective equipment and other farming implements, alongside the deployment of mechanisation support. The objective was to encourage timely cultivation, improve productivity and strengthen the capacity of farmers across the State.

But perhaps one of the clearest indications of the administration’s approach is its emphasis on large-scale commercial agriculture.

At the State-owned Udomi Farm in Edo Central, maize cultivation across about 400 hectares reportedly recorded yields averaging between six and seven tonnes per hectare, with the produce primarily off-taken by Prime Flour Mill in Ewu.

That model is important because it connects farming directly to the market: production, harvesting and an identified off-taker become part of the same agricultural chain.

The administration has also been pursuing the development of other farm settlements. At Uwesan Farm Settlement in Esan Central, the Governor inspected about 400 hectares and outlined plans for maize and cassava cultivation, with attention to commercial production and potential off-taking arrangements.

The broader strategy therefore appears to be shifting from simply distributing inputs to building an agricultural ecosystem in which land, mechanisation, production, markets and processing reinforce one another.

Another significant dimension is private-sector investment.

In December 2025, the Governor reaffirmed Edo State’s support for Presco following the announcement of a $100 million investment by SIAT and its parent company into Presco’s operations. The development strengthened the administration’s argument that Edo can attract substantial capital into agriculture when government creates an enabling environment for investors.

The administration is now looking beyond domestic investment.

In September 2026, the Edo State Government opened discussions with the United Arab Emirates on potential investment in agriculture, livestock production and agro-processing. The engagement is part of an effort to attract international capital, technology and expertise into Edo’s agricultural value chains.

Importantly, the State Government has indicated that its interest extends beyond exporting raw agricultural commodities. The stated objective is to encourage processing and value addition within Edo, thereby creating jobs and retaining more economic value within the State.

Livestock is also becoming part of this agricultural expansion.

In June 2026, work commenced on an ultramodern livestock processing facility in Ikpoba Slope, Benin City, with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development describing the project as a step toward positioning Edo as a destination for livestock production, processing and investment.

This gives the agricultural strategy a broader character. It is not restricted to maize, cassava or crop farming; it increasingly encompasses livestock, processing, investment and the development of agricultural value chains.

The human-capital component is equally significant.

The administration has pursued agricultural empowerment involving women, youths and children, including the “Every Home a Garden” initiative, poultry support and programmes designed to introduce children to practical farming.

Agricultural education has also been positioned as part of the long-term strategy, with the administration seeking to strengthen technical and practical training for the next generation of agricultural professionals.

Taken together, these developments point toward an agricultural policy that is increasingly being constructed around five major pillars: production, mechanisation, investment, processing and human capital.

For Edo, the potential implications extend beyond food availability.

A functioning agricultural value chain can create opportunities for farmers, transporters, processors, equipment operators, traders, storage providers, agro-input suppliers and young entrepreneurs. It can also strengthen rural economies while reducing dependence on food brought into the State from elsewhere.

Governor Okpebholo’s agricultural agenda is therefore becoming one of the defining components of his administration’s economic strategy.

The real test, as with any large-scale agricultural programme, will ultimately be sustained implementation, measurable productivity, farmer participation, private-sector investment and the ability to maintain the value chain from the farm to the final market.

But the direction is increasingly visible.

From the expansion of the agriculture budget to the 2026 farming-season intervention; from Udomi and Uwesan to Presco; from livestock processing to the pursuit of UAE investment; and from farmer empowerment to agricultural education, the administration is attempting to position agriculture not merely as a means of feeding Edo’s population, but as a platform for economic diversification, employment and wealth creation.

In that sense, the phrase “Okpebholo Agricultural Revolution” is increasingly associated with a broader ambition: transforming Edo’s agricultural potential into a productive economic system capable of feeding its people, supporting farmers, attracting capital and creating opportunities across generations.

For a State endowed with extensive arable land and a long agricultural tradition, the significance of that transformation could extend well beyond the farm gate.

Kingsley Ohens
Urbanscoopnews