Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has rolled out the second phase of his administration’s “Back to Farm” program, equipping farmers across all 18 local government areas with tools and inputs ahead of the 2026 planting season.
The distribution, which began Thursday evening at the Agricultural Hub on Oko-Ogba Road in Benin City, featured sprayers, fertilisers, knapsack mist dusters, fish processing kits, gas cylinders, farm boots, coveralls, safety goggles, gloves, and other implements designed to boost productivity at the grassroots level.
Details of the exercise were contained in a Friday statement from the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Patrick Ebojele. Representing the governor at the launch, Secretary to the State Government Musa Ikhilor restated the state’s pledge to prioritize agriculture as a pillar of food security under the administration’s SHINE development agenda.
Okpebholo underscored that increased agricultural funding and farmer-focused programs remain central to his government’s plans, stressing that food production is fundamental to survival and cannot be substituted by other sectors. He issued a firm caution that inputs must get to verified farmers only, not political actors, to ensure the support translates to actual output in the field.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Jerry Uwangue, said the event doubles as the official flag-off for the 2026 farming season and is geared toward encouraging modern practices and early preparation among farmers.
Beneficiaries at the event welcomed the intervention and called for sustained government backing to help maximize yields and secure a productive season across the state.