Dutch Govt Pledges N440m To Boost Agric In Rivers

The Dutch Government has pledged N440 million financial assistance to the Rivers State Government for its cassava plus programme.

The Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Bert J Ronhar disclosed this in an interview with newsmen shortly after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) and the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Amabassador Ronhaar also said that discussions were already on-going on ways of linking the university to Agro-based Universities in Holland.

He described the assistance as part of his country’s contribution towards the  development of agriculture in Rivers State.

The Dutch envoy who also said that his government was investing N6billion in Cocoa production in Nigeria further disclosed that enormous assistance was being given to both West African and the Sub-Saharan African countries in the development of agricultural programmes.

He expressed hope that the programme would ignite passion for agriculture among the young generations of Nigerians.

In his speech, the Executive Director of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), Mr Noble Pepple attributed the success of the cassava plus programme to the assistance of the Ambassador, stressing that the programme which is being replicated at the Rivers songhai farm in Bunu Tai would enhance cassava production in the state.

Mr Pepple also said that the initiative is to encourage the development of viable local industries and thanked the ambassador for his support towards the overall success of the programme.

In his speech, the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Prof B. B Fakae said that the agreement would ensure support for students of the institution in the field of agriculture.

He also said that the development is a strong indication that Rivers State has placed agriculture on the front burner and  expressed optimism that the objective of the collaborative arrangement would b achieved.

From left: Minister of Information and Communications, Mr Labaran Maku, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) National President, Malam Garba Mohammed, and NUJ Deputy President, Mr Rotimi Obamuwagun, during the Press Freedom Day in Abuja yesterday.