Business
RSG To Access N1bn Loan For Agric Dev
The Rivers State Government says it is pursuing with vigour, plans to access one billion naira from Zenith bank under the federal government agricultural credit scheme for the development of agriculture in the state.
The state commissioner for agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Chindah who disclosed this during this year’s World Food Day in Port Harcourt, also said that the state has paid its counterpart fund to the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) to enable it deliver on its mandate of agricultural production and sustainability through the national food security policy.
Mr Chindah further noted that the ministry has completed the siting of 16 oil processing mills in the state, while rice processing mills are being sited across the state to encourage rice production.
Other steps also taken by the government to boost food production in the state includes the establishment of agricultural centre of excellence at Rumuodomanya, establishment of a modern engineering workshop, resuscitation of School-To-Land programme, while efforts are under way to develop new ten thousand hectares of oil palm plantation in the Khana/Oyigbo axis as well as ten thousand hectares of rice plantation of Oyigbo.
He used the occasion to thank the state governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for his support to the ministry.
The state governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi said that the government planned to establish a Songhai Farm in the state.
Represented by his deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, he stressed the need for a collective effort to ensure food security in the state.
He also urged farmers in the state go access the N200 billion agricultural loan facilities of the federal government.