Expert Tasks RSG On Perenial Crops Farming

As Rivers State government sets to key into the agricultural sector to tackle hunger, poverty and unemployment in the state, an agricultural expert in Rivers State, Hon. Kingsley Chigbu, has urged the government to invest more in perennial crops farming establishments.

Hon. Chigbu, who stated this in an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt yesterday, explained that perennial crops farming has multiplier impact especially on income generation and capacity to create employment as well as food production.

He told The Tide that if Rivers State government under the leadership of Amaechi’s administration redirects its focus on agriculture by establishing perennial crops farming, it would create employment for the teaming unemployed youths in the state.

“Perennial crops farming is very vital area in agricultural development that generates revenue and massive food production, he exphasised.

Hon. Chigbu, who is the coordinator of Fadama III Programme in Omuma local government area, Rivers State also wants the state government to aggressively go into palm oil estate and processing companies stressing that Omuma local government area has the soil and raw material required for the establishment of the industry.

Commenting on the establishment of Songhai farms at Bonu Community in Tai local government area, Rivers state, the Fadama Coordinator lauded the present administration for its wisdom and focus to establish the agriculture farm which he described as a centre of excellence.

He however appealed to the government particularly policy makers in the agricultural sector in the state to be mindful of the challenges and problems associated with similar agricultural programmes in the past to ensure the realisation of the present administration’s goals.

Similarly, he urged youths in the state to always take the advantages and opportunities provided by the government and other agencies in agricultural sector in the state to better their living standard.

Isaac Nwankwo