‘Institute Scholarship Scheme for Agric Students’

The Rivers State government has been told to offer scholarship to students of agriculture and other related courses in order to raise new generation of farmers in the state.

Also the state government has  been urged to make farming a business and not as subsistence if the government wants to realize the Millennium Development Goals in the sector.

The programme Coordinator of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), Niger Delta Development Commission  (NDDC) community Based Natural Resources Management Programme (CBNRMP) in the Niger Delta, Mrs Irene Ibifuro Jumbo-Ibeakuzie made the call in an exclusive  interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt recently.

She explained that such scholarship scheme would stimulate youths interest in agriculture and other related professions which according to her has multiplier effect in the life of any nation.

The agricultural expert also stressed the need for the government to make adequate budgetary provision for agricultural development and also ensure that the funds budgeted for the sector were released on time.

Mrs Jumbo-Ibeakuzie identified inadequate budgetary provision and late release of funds meant for agricultural programmes as some of the factors militating against government’s realization of agricultural policies and programmes in the country.

Others include what she described as policy somersault and reneging in contractual obligation arguing that such hitches are not in line with development vision.

She used the opportunity to challenge Rivers State government to replicate the Soughai farm settlement in Tai local government area in other parts of the state so as to create job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths in the state.