Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Oshimili South Local Government Area of Delta, Mr. Chris Kpalogi, has lamented the drop in the prices of cassava.

Kpalogi who spoke in an interview with newsmen in Asaba observed and that price of a tonne of cassava had doubted to N5,000 as against N10,000 sold late last year.

“As at the ending of last year, a tonne of cassava was sold for about N10,000 and more but from January this yar, a tonne of cassava crashed to less than N5,000”, he said.

Kpalogi also decried the rising cost of farm imputs that aid the production of cassava adding that cost of funding had remained a major concern to farmers.

He said that his four-hectare cassava farm located at Ewulu in Aniocha South Local government Area could not break even because of the rising cost of production.

On the one billion naira Federal Government Agriculture loan scheme, Kpalogi said that the cost of accessing the loan was high and called for its review by the government to make farming profitable.

“To pay a deposit of 25 per cent of the amount you want as loan from the one billion naira agricultural loan and another 21 per cent interest on the amount borrowed, I feel is very high.

“I will propose that the government should bring the interest rate down to three per cent because government is not doing this to make gain but just to help farmers”, Kpalogi said.

In another development, the Delta State Executive Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a seven-day mourning for the late NLC Chairman, Mr Mike Akusu.

Akusu died Thursday, November 10, in Warri, Delta.

The council which convened at the Labour House in Asaba, said that the mourning period which started on Nov. 11 would end on Friday.

The council also announced the elevation of Comrade William Akporeha, the Vice Chairman of the congress to the position of Acting chairman.

It also directed all affiliated unions in the state to fly their flags at half mast, adding that labour leaders should wear black band and open condolence registers at the offices.

In his acceptance speech, Akporeha, who is also the National Treasurer, Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), eulogised Akusu, describing him as a visionary leader whose plans were aimed at improving the welfare of workers.

“We have no doubt that we will miss him, but we believe that wherever he is, his spirit will be with us to enable us achieve what he could not do during his life time.”

In his tribute, Mr Mike Okeme, the immediate past NLC state chairman, who handed over the mantle of leadership to the late Akusu, described him as a bosom friend and a hardworking man.