Forester Tasks Farmers On Tree Planting

A forester, Mr. Fred
Nwokocha has called on farmers in Rivers State to cultivate the habit of tree planting in order to protect and provide water for their crops.
Nwokocho who spoke to our correspondent yesterday in Port Harcourt explained that trees serve as wind breakers that could protect whole plantain farms during windy periods.
He said the practice by some farmers of getting rid of every tree  when clearing for cultivation  was not good for  ecosystem as trees and shrubs  function as wind breakers and water retention  agents to the land respectively.
He said with land becoming scarce by the day, farmers would also be at advantage  as dead leaves and twigs  were capable of nourishing the land.
Nwokocha who was also a former Director of Forestry in the State Ministry of Agriculture, said apart  from  other benefits  trees and shrubs has on farmlands, it also provides muich which help figh weed, a major challenge to farmers.
On the continuous  farming on a land piece for a long time, Nwokocha said farmers should avail  themselves of the  services of extension workers in the various Agricultural Development Departments (ADPs) of the  state  at the local government level.
He however called on farmers to embrace and key into current interventions of the present administration  in the agric sector.