Sylva Harps On Agric Dev

Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa has underscored the importance of agriculture as substitute to oil and gas.

Sylva said this in Yenagoa when he received a delegation comprising officials of the World Bank, Federal Ministry of Finance and the National Fadama Project Co-ordination Office.

He was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Gideon Ekeuwei.

The governor recalled that before the discovery of oil, agriculture was the mainstay of Nigerian economy.

According to him, his administration has invested so much in the areas of food production and food security in recognition of the critical role of agriculture in society.

Sylva said that all existing rice farms in Peremabiri, Kolo Creek and Sampou would be reactivated.

He further said that the state government was ready to pay its counterpart funds for donor-assisted programmes, including the Fadama programme.

Earlier, the team leader, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, said that the state and local governments should key into Fadama programme by paying their counterpart funds.