The Rivers State Government has been called upon to recruit more staff for the effective running of the Ahoada zonal office of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) as investigation shows that the rate of retirement was on the increase at the zone.

Our correspondent, who visited the ADP office recently reports that although the premises was bushy, skeletal services was on.

Efforts to speak with the zonal extension officer proved abortive as he was said to have travelled to Port Harcourt the state capital for official duties.

However, a staff who asked not to be named explained that most of the challenges facing the smooth operations of the programme were mobility, under funding and lack of items like raincoats, life jackets among others for field workers.

According to him, entering and accessing farms was tedious, especially during the raining season and stressed the need for regular and continuous training of staff.

He said that under funding had deprived staff of some basic allowances like transport and other sundry expenses  among others.

He further called on the authorities to intensify what he called monthly technological review meetings where research findings were discussed between agricultural experts and extension officers for the benefit of the rural farmers.

On the non availability of inputs like fertilizer and improved seedlings for farmers at the grassroots, he called on the Ministry of Agriculture at the headquarters to spread the “ input distribution” to the various zones of the ADPs across the state.

He expressed the fear that if the Ahoada Zonal Headquarters of the ADP was not adequately provided with field staff to checkmate the rapid retirement rate, the zone would not be able to support the various “cells and blocks” which make up the seven areas under the Ahoada zonal office.

It would be recalled that the Ahoada Zonal ADP covers seven local government areas of the state which include Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ikwerre, Etche, Emohua and Omuma.