Songhai Farm Must Sustain Self -RSG

The Rivers State Government says, the state’s multi-billion Naira Songhai Farm project at Bunu-Tai in Tai Local Government Area must generate enough revenue to sustain itself.
The Commissioner for Agriculrure, Mrs Onimim Jacks said this in an interview with newsmen during a Climate change conference organised by the Port Harcourt office of Alliance Francaise.
Jacks said that, the government cannot continue to release money to pay the staff and maintain facilities the farm, when it was viable enough to sustain itself.
The Commissioner described the issue of climate change as a big problem to agricultural development in the state, adding that the delay in the coming of the rains this year has affected food production.
“Climate change has affected food production this year, because the state was waiting for rain for a long time before planting”, she said.
She also said that the government was trying to find a middle way between agriculture and climate change to boost food production, stressing that in an bid to reduce the effect of climate change on the state, the Ministry of Agriculture was encouraging massive tree planting across the state.
According to her, “food producing trees will be planted while animal waste will be used to produce power.
“Trees cannot be continuously cut to make firewood.
There is need for those in agriculture to make less use of fertilizer. Trees cut down must be replaced”, she said.
Jacks commended Alliance Francaise for organising the conference, and stressed the need for more groups to join in creating awareness on the impact of climate change on food production.