The Rivers Government has disbursed a total of N82.6 million to farmers in the state in a bid to achieve food security.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Chindah, said in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the money was disbursed under the National Programme for Food Security Initiative.

Chindah said the gesture would help reduce the problem of the lack of access to credit experienced by farmers.

He urged the farmers to utilise the money judiciously, adding:“the challenge now is to utilise this money for the purpose of food production “Farmers benefiting from this grant are expected to invest wisely.

“The money is not fun; it is for serious business, which if farming to ensure massive food production,’’ he said.

“Remember, accessing more funds will depend on how well we observe this one being used,’’ Chindah said.

Meanwhile, the state government say it is set to acquire an additional 10,000 hectares of land for oil palm plantation. The number will bring to 16,000 hectares acquired for the purpose.

The Agric Commissioner stated this in an interview with newsmen at the end of the passing out of the 2010 batch of trainees at the School-to -Land Authority, Rumuodumaya.

Mr Chinda said  the state government was committed in reviving and expanding other existing farms in the state.

The commissioner said that the government would seek to partner with private investors in ensuring the  workability of the programme.

According to him, the programme was part of the strategy by Chibuike Amaechi’s government to check the rising tide of unemployment in the state.

Chinda however, used the occasion to advise the trainees to see farming as an opportunity to improve themselves. He said the area in which people see agriculture as being synonymous with suffering was gone and challenged them to put the knowledge acquired into practical use.

He also assured the trainees of the ministry’s assistance especially those concerning farmers, adding that they would have cause to smile if they go into farming.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director, Rivers State School-To-Land Authority, Sir Dan Goyo Ukoukpoko said that the trainees who were 52 were carefully selected from the 23 local government areas.

Sir Ukoukpoko noted that the authority had opened discussions with Rivers State mirco-finance agency, Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and other agencies with a view to attracting credits for the trainees.