The multi- billion Naira Ette Farm Settlement in Enugu State is now providing sanctuary to Fulani herdsmen in the state.
The farm was set up by the Dr Okeesilieze Nwodo’s administration in the old Enugu State to provide food at reduced cost the people of the state in particular and the southeast zone in general.
Nwodo’s administration fashioned it’s agricultural policy in line with the Michael Okpara’s regime in the First Republic and rehabilitated both the Adarice Farms in Uzo Uwani and set up the large Etteh Farm which it irrigated through the Ubere River.
However, when Southeast Post visited the farm, every facility in the large farmland covering several hecters had been destroyed.
The roads to the farm were no longer in use forcing the Southeast Post reporter to employ the services of a commercial motorcyclist.
The motorcyclist who turned out to be a member of the Ette Neighbourhood Watch told Southeast Post that the Fulani herdsmen started living in the farm which has now turned into a thick forest between eight and five years ago, adding that they now had two camps in the area.
“The farm was abandoned about 27 years ago and the roads were eaten up by erosion. All the irrigation pipes have either been vandalised or stolen.
“Wild and dangerous animals were living there following its abandonment but when the Fulani herdsmen came and settled there, the wild animals ran away because the were afraid of cattle which move in their thousands.
“We live in peace with the Fulani settlers in the farm. The come to our markets to buy their needs and go back to their settlements,” he said.
Also commenting on the development, Dr Nwodo described the development as sad.
He said that the governors who ruled after him including Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, Mr Sullivan Chime and the current Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi were not interested in both the Adarice in Uzo Uwani and Ette Farm because they no agricultural policies to implement.
“I cannot remember how many times I visited Gov Ugwuanyi to plead for the reactivation of the farms without success. My greatest disappointment is that the state government did not even concession the farms even if they were not interested in investing in agriculture. If they did so, the new owners would have been smiling to the banks.
“I have also taken some members of Nsukka Chamber of Mines, Industry and Agriculture to Gov. Ugwuanyi to assist them get Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, soft loans for Nsukka Yellow Pepper (Ose Nsukka) which is in very high demand overseas. I plead with Ugwuanyi to assist them through the CBN,” Nwodo said.
Nsukka pepper is a hibreed specie developed by the agricultural department of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with the type of fragrance that appeals to buyers.
Credit: Southeast Post
