Fishermen Hail Wike’s N2bn Food Bank

The Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN) has applauded the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, for initiating the N2billion Food Bank for the people of the state.
The National President of ARFAN, Bishop Godknows Nifeipiri, stated this, yesterday, in an interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt.
He described the food bank as a clarion call on peasant farmers and fishermen to redouble their efforts as the state government was there to buy off their produce and use them to feed the people during the Coronavirus pandemic period.
Nifeipiri said the idea of food bank remains a formidable intervention that would empower farmers and fishermen, and also provide food for the people of the state, particularly during the lockdown period to check the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic.
“We appreciate the state government’s intervention, and I advise both our members and non-members to take the best advantage of the opportunity provided by this laudable initiative.
“Use your technology to make the products available to the state committee in charge of the initiative”, he added.
The ARFAN President said the food bank was the best thing that has happened to farmers and fishermen in Rivers State, and advised other states of the federation, particularly in the Niger Delta region to emulate Governor Nyesom Wike’s food bank initiative.
Nifeipiri, who described Rivers State as a state with huge agricultural potentials in spite of some challenges, noted that when the agric sector stabilises, other sectors that make use of agric raw materials would also stabilise.
The national president said that the association has over 10,000 members in Rivers State, adding that with the numerous crop of farmers in the state, they would meet the state government’s target of providing adequate food for residents of the state.
He called on the youths to embrace agriculture, stressing that agriculture was one of the oldest business ventures in the world.
Nifeipiri advised the youths to change their beliefs that agriculture was for the poor old people and not a lucrative venture for the young ones.
“I expect this initiative to stimulate more youths to go into farming, either fish or crop farming. Let the youths turn to farming and shun social vices.
“Before, there was no money. This time, government has made money available, let youths out there looking for white collar jobs come into practical farming.
“Rivers State is a fishing state, and we have great potential to make the food bank initiative successful,” Nifeipiri said.
According to him, the present administration in the state led by Governor Nyesom Wike has broken the jinx and wrong impression that agriculture was for the old poor people.

By: Chris Oluoh