Agric Expert Hails RSG For Reviving School-To-Land

Former Dean of Faculty of Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Prof Alex Akor has hailed the state government for reviving the moribund “School-To-Land” programme.
In an exclusive chat with The Tide at his office in Port Harcourt yesterday, Prof Akor submitted that the scheme will go a long way to engage youths and raise food production in the state.
“The programme is worth reviving. But I will urge government to engage those who are qualified to run the scheme so it does not die again,” Akor said.
He suggested that Agriculture Development Programme (ADP) can latch on the scheme as a way of providing research and technical assistance to enhance its operations.
Prof Akor, who was former ADP programme director, also warned against politicizing the programme, saying, ”what is needed this time is utmost sincerity, and that is one way to make it succeed”.
The Agriculture Engineering expert also warned on duplication in terms of replicating activities by ministries, insisting that giving free hand to managers will help strengthen the scheme.
Commenting on the FADAMA Scheme, Prof Akor lamented that over the years, the government has not given adequate attention to the programme.
“There is no part of Niger Delta that does not encourage FADAMA agriculture. We can grow seasonal crops such as maize, rice and other vegetable that are adaptable to the riverine areas”, he suggested.
He explained that the essence of FADAMA is to encourage all season cultivation of crops, “we can eat fresh maize everyday in Rivers State, if we adapt it to FADAMA techniques.”
Akor stressed that many of the crops will produce as far as their roots do not go below the water table, and therefore, urged government to assist farmers to cultivate crops adaptable to the delta region.

Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker (left), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr Somiari Harry (2nd left), Director, Public Health, Dr Nnanna Onyekwerre (2nd right) and Special Assisant to the Commissioner, Dr Kalada Dick Iruenabere, during their appeareance before the House of Assembly in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday