Agric Student Hails Rivers Songhai Farm

A University student, Mr Steven Muzan, has described the Rivers State-owned Songhai farm as a centre for agricultural development, learning, and research.
Muzan who is of the Agricultural Economics and Extension Department of the University of Port Harcourt stated this in a chat with our correspondent recently in Port Harcourt at a public function.
The Uniport Agric undergraduate who is presently undergoing internship at the farm explained that though the centre was known for its agricultural development, such popularity could not translate to massive production of food at the centre.
According to him, he learnt from sources at the centre that the Songhai Initiative was not meant to feed the state or the nation even as he opined that it was not commercially based as it operates more on experimental and development basis.
“Most of what they do there is about research, recycling of organic matter to sustain agriculture without applying fertilizers’, insecticides or chemicals, he said.
Muzan who expressed passion about the centre explained that  since everything about the processes there were natural, it was not possible to go into commercial production of agricultural produce.
He said output would not be much and a lot of labour would be required in order to boost food production in commercial quantity.
Explaining further, he said the centre has the challenge of making financial returns for itself since fertisliers and other chemicals are not used to enrich the soil.
The only improvement that they can make on the soil is using organic manure which is derived from plant and animal wastes.
Musan said he does not see the possibility of the centre reverting to the use of chemicals or fertilizers for its agricultural needs.
According to him, if they do that, the main purpose of setting up the Songhai farm would be lost.
They are the first to buy eggs, fruits and other produce as they come undergrad places Songhai in perspective.