Agriculture experts from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) have called for the overhaul of the FADAMA III Project, saying that the scheme lacks the ingredient to drive food production in the country.

 Speaking in an exclusive chat with The Tide On Sunday, Prof Mike Ogburia in the Department of Crop Science and Plant Breeding, said the scheme has been marred by politics and corruption.

 For instance, he observed that since the FADAMA Project commenced in the Niger Delta, the region is yet to feel its impact, as the scheme is supposed to utilize the abundant water resources to boost food production.

“So far,” he stressed, “the way and manner it has been managed, coupled with the lack of professionals in the system, the scheme would not make any meaningful impact.”

Prof Ogburia insisted that the development of any nation revoles around agriculture and harped on the need for both government and corporate collaboration to boost food production.

In his submission, Dr Alex Akor of the Department of Agriculture Engineering, argued that the scheme should have been more profitable in the riverine areas. “If it’s profitable in the North, it can be more profitable in the south where there are swamps, “he said.

He observed that the major problem faced by the project is that, “its being headed by non-professionals and inexperienced people.”

He further lamented the poor state of Agriculture Development Programmes (ADP) in the state, blaming the situation on duplicity of functions.

Dr Akor recalled that ADP was well conceived by the World Bank and was efficient until it withdrew, “ADP is now politicized, that is not what it’s supposed to be. Another problem is funding.”

The agriculture engineering expert also stressed the need for government to increase its funding of the scheme. He added that ADP’s monthly review meetings should be sustained as a way of reaching out to local farmers.